Socso paid RM1.8 mln claims in Sandakan
SANDAKAN: Socso is spreading awareness on its services so that more people would be aware of the importance to register their businesses and employees under Socso and that more Socso contributors and their heirs will be aware of the rights and compensation that they are eligible to.
In efforts to spread this awareness to the local community in Sandakan, Socso or Perkeso, with the support of the Sandakan Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce, have organised a seminar that was participated by local leaders, including village chiefs, nongovernmental organisations, charitable bodies, religious leaders, and employers from various industries and contractors.
According to Socso Sabah director, Dr Mohd Ali Hindia, Socso has paid a total of RM1.8 million in claims for 781 cases under its schemes for eligible employees in Sandakan from January to August 2018. These cases include claims for temporary disability, permanent disability and claims for dependents, pensioners, and claims for burial management.
He also said that Socso Sabah has paid a total of RM13.5 million in Sabah to 2,591 recipients, last year. As from January until September this year, Socso has paid RM835,000 to 1,380 recipients of the Occupational Insurance Scheme in Sabah.
According to the statistics of Socso Sandakan office, from January until August this year, 172 workers who lost their jobs received an interim payment from Socso. The interim payment of RM600 is transferred directly to the bank account of the recipient every month, for three months.
Meanwhile, Dr Mohd Ali revealed that from January to June this year, Socso Sandakan recorded 13 cases of employers failing to register their premises (Section 4 of Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 (ESSA) ), failing to register their employees (Section 5 of ESSA), and failing to report accidents (Regulation 71 of Employees’ Social Security (General) Regulations 1971). In Sabah, 52 of such cases were recorded over the same period.
Mohd Ali said that Socso has no choice but to issue compounds to employers for these shortcomings, which he sees as not being punitive to employers, but rather to give awareness on the importance of complying with the Act and regulations under Socso so that their employees will be protected.
“We urge employers in Sandakan to comply with the Act and regulations by registering their employees under Socso so that we can help them should they lose their jobs, or in times of chronic illness or death.
“The most common shortcoming (in which employers fail to register their employees under Socso within 48 hours after employment) involves small businesses, such as small shops with only one or two employees,” he disclosed.
The seminar, which was attended by about 100 participants, was launched by the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law), Datuk Liew Vui Keong, represented by his private secretary, Mohd Hanafiah Sahih Montoi.
Also present were Sandakan Bumiputera Chamber of Commerce head, Zulkifli Jospeh Teo and Mariam Hassan, Socso Sandakan manager.