THE participation of housewives in the proposed Housewifes’ Social Security Scheme (SKSSR) is on a voluntary basis and husbands are not obliged to contribute for their wives, the Social Security Organisation (Socso) said.

It said the Housewives’ Social Security Bill 2022, tabled for the first reading by Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday, states that the husband is only obliged to pay contributions for his wife if he chooses to do so and he needs to inform Socso.

“In this situation, it can be an offence for the husband if he fails to pay the contribution. The husband can be fined not more than RM10,000 or imprisoned not more than two years, or both, if convicted,” it said in a statement tonight.

“However, if the couple is divorced or the husband is unable to pay his wife’s contribution due to loss of source of income or the like, then his commitment to pay the contribution is void.”

Socso also said the wife or housewife can pay the SKSSR contribution voluntarily and the payment of the contribution can also be made by any third party. 

In this regard, it said, news reports published by several media that husbands who failed to pay their wives’ Socso contributions can be fined or imprisoned are inaccurate. 

The Housewives’ Social Security Bill, which seeks to provide for social security for the insured housewives in the form of certain benefits for the improvement of their health, safety, welfare and well-being was tabled for the first reading in the Dewan Rakyat yesterday.

According to the bill, a scheme, known as SKSSR, will be set up for the purpose.

The bill states that housewives who contribute to the scheme are entitled to disability benefits such as medical benefits, permanent disablement benefit, constant attendance allowance, survivor’s pension and funeral benefit. – Bernama, July 20, 2022.