(From left) Dr Hafez, Mohamad Zainal, Nogami, Prof Siti Zaharah and Dr Edrin Nazri after their session on safety and health for the self-employed at the ISSA Technical Seminar at the World Trade Centre. – AZLINA ABDULLAH/The Star
KUALA LUMPUR: Only 532,828 out of three million self-employed individuals in Malaysia are covered under the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO), said its Rehabilitation Centre executive director Datuk Dr Hafez Hussain.
Noting that the figures were only of the registered individuals, Dr Hafez said there are many more workers who have yet to divulge their employment status to the national social security agency.
“From the figures, over 10% of these self-employed individuals suffer from work-related injuries annually.” Hence, PERKESO has to make sure the question of ‘what happens after an accident’ can be answered and solved.
Highlighting the importance of tailored rehabilitation programmes for the self-employed, Dr Hafez noted it wasn’t as simple as healing the wounds obtained from an accident.
He said it is a long process which includes assessments (psychological and physical), goal setting, assignment and intervention, evaluation and long-term care of the worker involved.
“It is the continuous care (during and post accident) that promotes the total wellbeing of the self-employed worker.
“We also have to embrace technology as an enabler of providing continuous disability management and rehabilitation services for the self-employed,” he said.
He noted that a rehabilitation programme conducted between PERKESO and Malaysian Institute of Road Safety Research (Miros) enabled 70% out of 852 patients to return to their gigs and be safe on the road.
Dr Hafez was giving a presentation on “Rehabilitation and return to work programmes for the self employed?” during the Social Security Association (ISSA) Technical Seminar at the World Trade Centre here yesterday.
Moderated by PERKESO medical board and medical opinion head Dr Edrin Nazri Abdul Rasib, this session featuring Dr Hafez as well as three distinguished guests, touched on topics surrounding occupational safety and health (OSH) for the self- employed.
Yeasmin Abdullah, a participant of the ISSA Technical Seminar, posed a question to Dr Hafez after the presentations concluded.
Miros director-general Assoc Prof Dr Siti Zaharah Ishak spoke on “Safety at the last mile: Road safety for the delivery gig workers”, highlighting the importance of social security for the riders.
“They make up over 65% of motorcycle fatalities. It is crucial to adopt a multifaceted approach to enable implementation of comprehensive road safety training and support systems, technologies and innovative solutions, as well as regulation and policy.
“Ensuring safety of riders’ not only protects them, but also enhances efficiency and reliability of the services - ultimately leading to a more sustainable and productive gig economy. This is a collaborative effort,” said Prof Siti Zaharah.
Meanwhile, International Labour Organisation labour law reform and industrial relations project chief technical advisor Natsu Nogami emphasised that safety and health are a fundamental right at work for all.
During her session on “Can the OSH law be partial to the self employed?”, Nogami noted that social workers miss out on social security as national OSH laws often exclude self-employed workers.
“Restructuring and fragmentation of the labour market through supply chain, sub contracting practices and triangular relationships could disguise, or create ambiguity over employer responsibilities on OSH,” she said.
Nogami then shared the types of occupational risks and hazards self-employed workers face, as well as case studies from Spain, China and the republic of South Korea that Malaysia could adapt and learn from.
Meanwhile, Pos Malaysia occupational safety, health and environment (OSHE) head Mohamad Zainal Mohamad Nor gave a presentation titled “An industrial practice to safety and health amongst parcel delivery platform workers”.
He shared about the national carrier’s social safety initiatives and frameworks which include vehicle safety policies, safety programmes, load and operational safety guidelines, benchmarking programmes and more.
“Pos Malaysia is making it a point to establish a new culture called the ‘Wira Way: We Deliver Safety’ this October.
“This is to enhance awareness and safety for our couriers who are the ‘heroes’ as they risk their lives to deliver parcels while we stay at home comfortably,” he said.
Dr Edrin Nazri said the presentations of speakers highlighted the importance of maintaining social security of the workers and their families.
“After all, the best form of social security is to ensure our workers remain in employment by being free of disabilities caused by workplace injuries, as well as diseases.
“The traditional of imparting and instilling knowledge about OSH may not be suitable for the informal sector. Thus, we hope ISSA can help dispel some issues and challenges in implementing OSH among gig or platform workers,” he concluded.
In continuing its efforts towards occupational safety, health and environment, PERKESO in partnership with Miros and PLUS is organising the Conference on ASIA Road Safety (CARS) 2024. Themed “Safer Journey, Sustainable Future”, CARS will be held from Sep 2 to 3 at the Putrajaya International Convention Centre.
