Socso for foreign workers from Jan 1

PETALING JAYA: The Cabinet has decided to place social security protection of foreign workers under Social Security Organisation (Socso) with effect from Jan 1, 2019, according to Human Resources Minister M. Kulasegaran.

He said in a statement that this was in line with the Equality of Treatment (Accident Compensation) Convention, 1925 (No.19) and Conference Committee on the Application of Standard under the International Labour Organization (ILO), which Malaysia has ratified.

Kulasegaran said that his ministry, together with Socso will conduct engagements with the stakeholders soon.

He noted that employers who hire foreign workers with valid documents including expatriates must register their employees with Socso and contribute to the Employment Injury Scheme under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4).

The benefits under the scheme include medical benefit, temporary disablement benefit, permanent disablement benefit, constant-attendance allowance, dependants’ benefit and rehabilitation, as well as RM6,500 repatriation cost including funeral.

However, he said the foreign workers would not be covered by the Invalidity Pension Scheme under Act 4.

“Employers can go to any of Socso 54 offices in the country including Sabah and Sarawak to register their foreign workers,” he added.