ONLY 634,215, or 21.9%, of self-employed workers are contributing to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SESSS), said Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar.

He said based on data up to June 18, the figure is far lower than the actual number of those eligible to contribute under the scheme.

“The number of self-employed individuals, based on statistics from the Statistics Department (DOSM), is 2.89 million people. Of that number, only 21.9% contribute to SESSS.

“The largest number of contributors is from the professional services sector which is 32.3%, followed by goods and food transport (17.5%) and passenger transport (13.3%),” he told the media after visiting the Socso Rehabilitation Centre in Kuala Terengganu today.

Sivakumar said that the lowest percentage of contributors were from the data processing sector at 23 people, forestry at 345 people (0.05%) and accommodation premises at 507 people (0.08%).

“Perhaps these people don’t know they can contribute, or maybe think only those who have an employer are eligible to contribute.

“It could be that they don’t know what the role of Socso is, how Socso can help them, and (maybe) they think nothing will happen to them but… Anything can happen to anyone at any time,” he said, adding that his ministry will intensify the campaign to introduce the scheme for the welfare and social security of the group.

He said since the campaign launch on June 1, 2017, under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017, SESSS protects self-employed individuals in 20 sectors, and has paid benefits worth RM15.5 million to 4,890 contributors.

The Kuala Terengganu Socso Rehabilitation Centre, which is the only satellite rehabilitation centre operating on the east coast to assist the treatment process of insured benefactors, has provided treatment to 515 patients.

A total of 111 of those who sought treatment have returned to work since the centre began operating on June 28, 2020. – Bernama, June 20, 2023.