KUALA LUMPUR, June 4 — The Human Resources Ministry, through the Social Security Organisation (Socso) has extended its social security protection coverage to domestic workers effective June 1.

Socso chief executive Datuk Seri Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said this extension, under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 and the Employees’ Insurance System Act 2017 (Act 800), will enable domestic workers who were not previously covered by social security coverage to now receive the same protection as workers in other sectors.

He said domestic workers are individuals employed to manage related work for private residences.

Generally, he added, domestic work was considered a precarious profession exposed to mishaps due to employment conditions, including long working hours, inadequate social security protection and a wide job scope.

Mohamad Azman said some 104,400 domestic workers involving 15,000 workers with citizenship and permanent resident status, as well as 89,400 foreign workers, are expected to benefit from the initiative.

"The role of domestic workers in households is seen to be increasingly important when educational institutions such as schools, kindergartens and child care centres are ordered to close temporarily in compliance with the movement control order (MCO),” he told a virtual press conference today.

Apart from being exposed to more risks such as infectious diseases when taking care of risk groups such as the elderly and patients, the MCO also restricts outdoor movement, which in turn increased their workload.

In this regard, the strategy to expand coverage for domestic workers under Act 4 and Act 800 was in line with the government’s aspiration to recognise their contributions in driving the country’s economy as well to champion their rights for social security protection.

The protection coverage under the Employment Injury Scheme and Invalidity Scheme and the Employees’ Insurance System Act will ensure domestic workers continue to be protected in the event of accidents or untoward incidents during work.

He said domestic workers with citizenship, permanent resident and temporary resident status would be covered through the Employment Injury Scheme and Invalidity Scheme under Act 4 and the Employment Insurance System under Act 800, while foreign domestic workers were covered through the Employment Injury Scheme under Act 4 only.

"Contributions by employers and domestic workers will depend on the monthly salary of a domestic worker. It is paid according to the rate set in the Third Schedule, Act 4 and the Second Schedule, Act 800,” he said.

Mohammed Azman said registration of employers and employees for the coverage can be made from June 16 through the Assist portal https://assist.perkeso.gov.my with coverage starting June 1.

He said among the examples of domestic workers are maids, drivers or bodyguards, gardeners, residential security guards, cooks, babysitters, caregivers for the elderly or patients, helpers or people employed in relation to private residences.

"I would like to emphasise that the registration (for contributions) of domestic workers is compulsory under Act 4 and Act 800.

"If they fail to do so, they are also subject to the existing Act and can be prosecuted and if found guilty, they can either be jailed for two years or fined RM10,000 or both,” he said. — Bernama