PUTRAJAYA should withdraw the Housewives’ Social Security Bill 2022 which presumes the income of housewives to be at RM600, an “insulting” amount, lawmaker Hannah Yeoh said in the Dewan Rakyat today.

“I support the spirit of this law but the government must delay it so that it can be improved,” the Segambut MP told the House.

In the Third Schedule of the bill, RM600 is the amount the government has presumed to be the value of a housewife’s “work” in the home, in order for her working husband to contribute RM10 for her to a social security fund.

“Under the Third Schedule, the rate of contribution is based on a presumed monthly income for housewives.

“But this presumed monthly income is just RM600. This is insulting. How can that be when the minimum wage itself is RM1,500 a month now?” Yeoh said.

The former women, family and community development deputy minister, said this amount was unrealistic and demeans a housewife’s job.

She also agreed with other lawmakers debating the bill that it did not recognise nor encourage men to take on a homemaker’s role.

“Under section 3 of the act, a housewife is defined as female, whether married or unmarried, who manages a household, on a full-time basis or not.

“Although it includes a wife, divorcee or widow or single mothers, there is no provision for men who take on the role of a homemaker.”

She said it was time to normalise men who take on the role of home makers.

“And stop stereotyping women as the only people who can do housework so that more men can take up these roles,” said Yeoh.

Parliament is currently debating the Housewives’ Social Security Bill 2022. The proposed new law is to provide social security for the insured housewives in the form of certain benefits, for the improvement of health, safety, welfare and well-being of the housewives.

The RM10 contribution by husbands at the presumed housewife’s “income” of RM600 is for the first year, according to the bill. 

Some MPs debating the bill today said the first year’s total amount of RM120 should be paid for by the government instead. – July 25, 2022.