THE self-employed in high-risk jobs should take advantage of the Security Organisation (Sosco) protection scheme especially since more Malaysians are now working in informal sectors and self-employment.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook said his ministry is subsidising 70% of the costs to ensure all taxi and car rental drivers, including school bus operators, are covered under the socio security protection scheme.
Ride sharing and food delivery workers are also incorporated into the scheme and today, the ministries of Human Resources and Transport officially launched it at Wisma Sosco in Seberang Jaya.
The scheme was launched last year and there are up to four million Malaysians listed under the gig (informal sectors) economy and self-employed.
Under the scheme called ‘Lindung Kendiri’ the workers contribute about 10 percent or RM23.30 monthly.
The government through Sosco will sponsor the remaining 90 percent of up to RM232.80 monthly.
As of last year, 22,000 taxi, car rental and school bus drivers are protected under the scheme while the Transport Ministry allocated up to RM524 million to subsidise payments.
There are about 50,000 drivers who have yet to enrol in the scheme.
The initiative provides those self-employed with protection against employment injuries and occupational diseases arising from work activities.
Key benefits include free or reimbursed medical treatment, temporary and permanent disablement and funeral benefits.
Contributions are mandatory for certain self-employed individuals, with the government offering subsidies for high-risk groups like gig workers and providing subsidies to ensure affordability.
Loke, who is also the DAP secretary - general, urged all self-employed to consider registering for the scheme.
Meanwhile, Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong, who co-launched the initiative with Loke, also spoke about Sosco dialysis centres, which are now being actively set up to arrest the escalating costs in treating those entitled.
Penang Sosco headquarters in Seberang Jaya has one, complementing the existing five others in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Johor.
Sim said that there is a tremendous surge in kidney dialysis treatments - in 2020, there were 13,000 Sosco contributors receiving treatment at a cost of RM293 million annually.
Last year, the costs went up to RM400 million with 18,000 Sosco contributors receiving treatment, said Sim.
By offering inhouse services, Sosco hopes to save treatment costs by 30 percent, he added. - September 20, 2025
