Taxi drivers advised to register with Socso scheme
MIRI: Taxi drivers are urged to register themselves with Social Security Organisation ( Socso) Self-Employment Social Security Scheme which will act as a social safety net, not only for themselves but for their families as well.
The mandatory scheme which was enforced on June 1 this year provides protection to the selfemployed insured person from illnesses with regards to job and work-related accident.
According to Miri Socso manager Hendera Saiful, the response has not been encouraging and Socso officers would go to the ground to encourage them to register.
She also said registration can be made through www.perkeso.gov. my or at Socso branch offices.
This scheme includes taxis or similar services in Malaysia such as budget cabs, executive cabs, limousines, airport taxis, rental cars and similar services ( Uber/ Grab car/E-hailing).
“We have visited focus areas here such as Miri airport on June 16 and have met the chairman of the taxi association here and the response is very positive, and what they are asking is for more information about this scheme and we will conduct a talk on this soon.
“We were also given to understand that these taxi drivers were still unaware of the new scheme and some said they had purchased their own personal insurance,” he told reporters at a press conference here Thursday after the ‘ Program Seranta Perkeso 2017’ which was attended by 75 employees, employers and the public from around Miri.
He said the contribution rate, based on the insured’s income option, is 1.25 per cent per month and shall be paid on a prepaid basis for a 12-month period of protection and it should be renewed thereafter.
“For example, the insured income is RM1,050 so the yearly contribution is only RM157.20 per annum, thus Socso is providing a flexible contribution option to taxi drivers according to their capacity, from RM157.20 to RM592.80 per annum.
“I urge those affected to come to our office and we will explain in more details,” he added.
On another matter, Hendera said from January to June this year, Socso had visited 72 employers under the ‘Ops Kesan 2017’, a door- to- door operation by the enforcement officers to identify employers who failed to comply with the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 and the Social Security Regulations ( General) 1971.
“Under Section 4, 26 notices have been issued to those failing to register their company and the amount of compound imposed is RM20,500.
“Meanwhile for Section 5 (failing to register the workers), eight notices were issued and the amount of compound imposed is RM4,500,” he added.
We have visited focus areas here such as Miri airport on June 16 and have met the chairman of the taxi association here and the response is very positive, and what they are asking is for more information about this scheme and we will conduct a talk on this soon. Hendera Saiful, Miri Socso manager