Govt’s additional EPF contribution only for first wives – DPM

KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s additional contribution of RM50 towards the Employees Provident Fund (EPF) for housewives will cover the first wife only in the event of a polygamous marriage.

Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said the government’s contribution would not be extended to the second, third or fourth wife.

“It is the husband’s duty, we will only contribute for the first wife ... if they (men) marry more than one, they have to be financially able to support another wife, the responsibility cannot be handed over to the government,” she said.

“The initiative is to further secure the future of housewives and this contribution is expected to be a saving in the event anything untoward happens to the family’s breadwinner,” she said in response to a question from Datuk Dr Mohd Khairuddin Aman Ghazali (PAS Kuala Nerus) in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Deputy Prime Minister, said a memorandum on the scheme was ready and would be brought up in the next Cabinet meeting.

The scheme will take effect in stages within Pakatan Harapan’s first 100 days in government, starting with voluntary contributions which will later be made mandatory with amendments to the EPF Act and Social Security Organisation (Socso) Act. Bernama