KUALA LUMPUR: Only 253,794 women out of some three million housewives in the country have registered for the Housewives Social Security Scheme (SKSSR) as of April 21 this year, says the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
Among them, Orang Asli in the peninsula and Chinese were the fewest who signed up at 472 and 10,399 women respectively.
The rest included 137,796 Malay housewives, Indian (17,034), bumiputra in Sabah (20,631), bumiputra in Sarawak (19,204) and others (48,258).
For the states, Sarawak leads with 56,128 registrations, followed by Sabah (49,780), Selangor (16,867), Johor (16,588), Terengganu (16,348), Kelantan (15,489), Perak (15,397), Penang (13,953), Kedah (13,855), Negri Sembilan (11,161), Pahang (9,154), Melaka (8,056) and Perlis (3,725).
The total number of registrations in the three federal territories of Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan was 7,293.
Due to the low sign-up rate, Socso is embarking on a nationwide roadshow this month, beginning from Kuala Lumpur.
Socso Social Security Committee for Housewives chairman Kasthuri Patto said seven roadshows have been planned so far from May to July to be held at the Wisma Perkeso on Jalan Tun Razak.
The dates are May 6, 7 and 13; and July 2, 12, 18 and 23.
She said the roadshows would see participation from employers, aimed at providing information to the private sector, statutory bodies, government-linked companies (GLCs), cooperatives, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and any institution about how to make SKSSR contributions for company employees or women from the B40 group with tax exemptions through the National Welfare Foundation (NWF).
“Socso signed a memorandum of understanding with NWF about companies’ contribution to the SKSSR scheme for their female workers and workers' wives, or any woman falling under the B40 or M40 groups, which will be based on per capita income.
“The companies will be given income tax exemption for their contribution, as stipulated in Section 44(6) of the Income Tax Act 1967.
“So these roadshows are also targeting employers nationwide so that they know about the initiative and sign up to contribute,” she said in a press conference on Friday (May 3).
The roadshows would involve employers from various sectors such as banking, retail, manufacturing, automotive, communications, hospitality and others.
“The roadshows will be expanded throughout the states in Malaysia, including allowing elected representatives to contribute to the B40 or M40 housewives in their respective areas according to their needs.
“We expect the roadshows to enhance awareness of social protection with more comprehensive coverage through the specialised SKSSR protection for female workers and workers' wives with tax exemptions for B40 or M40 women.
“For female workers who are not eligible for tax exemptions, companies can still sponsor based on the concept of employers’ solidarity for the overall well-being of company employees,” she said.
Kasthuri noted that ten companies from the private sector have so far sponsored contributions to SKSSR totalling RM558,360, benefiting 4,864 women from the B40 group.
“I hope more corporate employers will come forward to participate in this initiative as part of their corporate social responsibility programmes to provide a social safety net for vulnerable women,” she said.
The SKSSR was previously implemented on Dec 1, 2022, under the Housewives’ Social Security Act 2022, to provide social security protection to women, married or not, against domestic injury, illnesses and invalidity while managing their households.
The scheme requires a contribution of only RM120 a year, which can be made either by the woman or her husband, family members or any other third party.
“With such a scheme in place, the objective now is to step up on the dissemination of information on the SKSSR through community leaders, councillors, assemblymen, MPs and senators, including civil society and all NGOs to help pass the word on this social protection by the government for women.
Socso Synergy Department's SKSSR branch head Rohana Mohamad, who was also present, said many had the perception that the SKSSR was only meant for married women or housewives.
“This is not true, as it is open to all Malaysian women below 55, for now, with plans to increase the age limit underway.
“This will be another layer of protection because accidents happen at home or when we are outside,” she said.
Rohana also called on more husbands to sign up and contribute on behalf of their wives.
Under the scheme, women are entitled to Domestic Accident Protection Benefits covering medical benefits, permanent disability benefits, funeral benefits, physical rehabilitation or dialysis facilities, and survivors’ pensions.
As for the Invalidity Protection Benefits, they can enjoy morbidity allowance, physical rehabilitation or dialysis facilities, funeral benefits and survivors’ pension.
