SOCSO GOES UNDERCOVER TO SCREEN TAXI DRIVERS
Officers to ride with e-hailing, taxi drivers to check on those unregistered
THE Social Security Organisation (Socso) will start issuing compounds to those who fail to register under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme starting this week.
Chief executive officer Datuk Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said only 50,801 drivers had registered and contributed to the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme up to yesterday.
“There should have been more as the number of registered taxi and e-hailing drivers are almost about 300,000.
“Starting this week, Sosco enforcement officers will be monitoring and checking those who have not registered under the scheme, and we may compound them if they are found to be unregistered.
“Sosco is not trying to add to their (selfemployed) burden, but this is for their own benefit as well as their families’ welfare,”
he said at a press conference held at Wisma Perkeso yesterday.
Azman said efforts to detect and contact self-employed workers would be increased and action taken if they failed to contribute to the scheme.
“We will be increasing our efforts to contact them and encourage them to come and register voluntarily. If they fail to come forward, action will be taken against them.
“If they are found guilty, they may be fined up to RM10,000 or sentenced to jail or both.”
Azman said 149 contributors in the SelfEmployment Social Security Scheme were eligible for the scheme.
He said there had been 12 deaths recorded among contributors, and Socso had been paying compensation to their families in the form of retirement funds or monthly payments.
Contributors only needed to pay a minimum of RM13.10 per month to be covered under the scheme, which was in line with the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 (Act 789).
The scheme had been introduced since June 2017.
On Aug 1, Sosco introduced Op Patuh to take action against errant taxi and e-hailing drivers, who have yet to sign up for the scheme under Act 789.
Op Patuh will be carried out for one month to ensure that all taxi and e-hailing drivers registered under the Land Public Transport Agency have contributed to the scheme.
The operation will see plainclothes Sosco officers riding in their vehicles and checking on them. The nationwide operation is being conducted in collaboration with the police and Road Transport Department.
Errant drivers will be given a compound notice, which requires them to furnish proof of registration and contribution payment within seven days after the notice being issued.
Prior to the operation, the government had extended the grace period twice since March.
To register for this scheme, drivers can go to Socso offices nationwide or register online at www.perkeso.gov.my.