Socso scheme for housewives must be accessible, inclusive, say activists

KUALA LUMPUR – The government’s pledge to set up a social security scheme for housewives may seem like welcome news in Malaysia, but activists caution it will be of little benefit unless truly accessible and embraces women from all walks of life.

In particular, it should provide assistance to women working in the informal sector, which many are forced to join following a pandemic-induced decline in economic activities.

The Social Security Organisation (Socso) will implement the scheme, following a cabinet decision on July 14.

Former human resources minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, who announced the scheme prior to the cabinet’s resignation on Monday, said it will provide coverage against domestic incidents such as accidents, diseases and death.

There are about 2.99 million housewives in the country, of whom 150,000 are living under the poverty line.

Women’s Aid Organisation advocacy officer Kiran Kaur told The Vibes that the scheme is an “essential step”, but should be expanded as women have been hit hard by the Covid-19 crisis.

Single mothers, widows and women working in the informal sector – where they have no access to social security benefits – must be taken into account, she added.

She also pointed out that the pandemic has pushed many women out of the workforce and increased their unpaid care work.

“Before the pandemic, women took on three times as much care work compared with men. However, this has only increased with the onset of the pandemic.”

Kiran cited an Institute of Strategic and International Studies research that showed the number of employed women in the second quarter of last year in the country fell by 2.5%, while the number of employed men in the same period fell by only 0.5%.

“As such, women are more likely to lose their jobs and expected to care for increased housework, and may work in the informal sector to make ends meet.

“This is especially applicable to vulnerable groups, such as single mothers.”

Unpaid care work important for economy 

Based on Statistics Department data, women make up only 38.8% of the formal workforce in the country, and their participation in the informal sector has increased from 38.7% in 2017 to 43.7% in 2019.

Kiran said individuals in the informal economy miss out on the bulk of the government’s employment scheme, which narrowly targets formal work.

She stressed that housewives are not categorised as workers, but still exposed to accident risks when cooking at home, caring for children and doing household chores.

“It is a good move, as implementing such a scheme sends the message that unpaid care work is recognised to have an economic value in contributing to the national care economy.”

As the scheme will be opened to all housewives – including those below the poverty line – the authorities should ensure the registration method is accessible to the targeted groups, and not only be online, she added.

Kiran said the pandemic has shown that not everyone has equal access to the internet, as many struggle with navigating the digital landscape.

“It is crucial that matters of accessibility are considered in this scheme, to ensure the aid provided reaches target groups.

“According to the United Nations Children’s Fund-UN Population Fund Families on the Edge report, the B40 families surveyed said accessing aid is a problem, citing illiteracy, procedural issues and logistical issues as barriers.”

Cover all parents who deserve aid

Voice of the Children chairman Sharmila Sekaran said the scheme should also cover fathers as single parents, adding that parents need to bear the responsibility of caring for young children, while also making a living.

The scheme should be more detailed so as to not neglect anyone who deserves relevant aid, she added.

“How do they define housewives? Only those currently married, wherein only the husband goes to work? Does the scheme cover widows?

“What about single-parent families who may require the assistance provided in the scheme?”

She said single parents who are unable to have full-time jobs are not eligible for normal Socso benefits, and that it is important to identify the needs of such parents and address their plight. – The Vibes, August 19, 2021