KUALA LUMPUR, 21 April — Local and foreign domestic helpers in Malaysia will benefit from the new expansion of social security protection, with a total of 104,000 helpers included under Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4) and the Employment Insurance System Act 2017 (Act 800).
Malaysian Human Resources Minister Datuk M. Saravanan, said the government has approved the proposal to expand the social security coverage to domestic helpers.
The minister said the helpers comprised 15,000 Malaysians and permanent residents as well as 89,400 foreigners, adding that the expansion of coverage was expected to be implemented on 1 June 2021.
“Domestic helpers who are Malaysian and permanent residents, who contribute to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) will be protected under the Employment Injury Scheme and Disability Scheme under Act 4 as well as the Employment Insurance System under Act 800.
“For foreign domestic helpers, they will be protected under Act 4 of the Employment Injury Scheme. The contribution payment rate by employers and employees will follow the current contribution rate under Act 4 and Act 800,” he said at a press conference after Socso’s Iftar ceremony here today.
According to Saravanan, domestic helpers include maids, personal drivers, babysitters and gardeners.
He noted that the contribution paid by the employer and employee will follow the current contribution rate under Act 4 and Act 800.
Saravanan said this expansion of coverage will protect the domestic helpers who previously did not qualify for coverage under Act 4 and Act 800.
Source: The Star/Malay Mail/Bernama
