PUTRAJAYA – The Human Resources Ministry is targeting 500,000 housewives to register as contributors under the Housewife Social Security Scheme (SKSSR) next year.
Its minister V. Sivakumar said the scheme, the brainchild of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail in 2018, was implemented on December 1 and a total of 1,092 contributors had voluntarily registered as of December 8.
On July 25, the Dewan Rakyat passed the Housewives Social Security Bill 2022 (now Act 838), which guarantees the social welfare of housewives, families, and the community through the scheme.
The Social Security Organisation (Socso) is responsible for implementing SKSSR for the purpose of expanding the social safety net to the target group of women, both married and unmarried, and whether they are managing a household full-time or not – including wives, widows or divorcees, single mothers, and single women with career or full-time housewives.
Sivakumar, who was asked about the difference between SKSSR and insurance schemes offered by insurance companies at a press conference here today, said the former does not set the precondition of being illness-free and offers the lowest required contribution of RM10 per month.
He said SKSSR provides protection against domestic injury and invalidity for housewives who contribute.
The domestic injury benefit includes medical and permanent disability benefits, facilities for physical or vocational rehabilitation and dialysis, funeral benefits, and survivors’ pension.
The protection against invalidity provides benefits like constant-attendance allowance, facilities for physical or vocational rehabilitation and dialysis, funeral benefits, and survivors’ pension.
“Contributors only need to make a payment of RM120 per year in advance to receive protection for 12 consecutive months, provided the person involved is a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident aged below 55,” he said.
In order to reach the target of 500,000 contributors, Sivakumar said his ministry will intensify promotions including dialogues, awareness campaigns for target groups, and briefings for MPs so that SKSSR can be promoted in their constituencies. – Bernama, December 12, 2022
