HUMAN Resources Minister V. Sivakumar has targeted to get at least 500,000 Malaysian women and permanent residents across the country to register for the government’s newly launched Housewife Social Security Scheme by the end of next year. 

Although the name of the scheme specifically mentions “housewife”, the newly minted minister said women homemakers and women up to the age of 55, irrespective of their marital status, can register for the scheme. 

“This initiative is open to all Malaysian women and permanent residents who are below the age of 55,” Sivakumar said at his first press conference as the human resources minister in Putrajaya today.

“Eligible persons just need to make an advance payment of RM120 per year to get the domestic disaster and disability coverage for 12 months.

“We have targeted to get at least 500,000 registrations for the scheme.”

As this scheme pays no attention to any pre-existing medical conditions of registrants, Sivakumar said among the immediate steps taken to promote it will be through all parliamentarians and civil servants. 

“We will take all initiatives to enable more people to register and contribute in this scheme,” the Batu Gajah MP said.

“The Social Security Organisation (Socso) plans to brief all 222 MPs so that they can help promote the scheme in their respective constituencies.

“This scheme is brought to civil servants and we are working on the best method of how we can enable members of the public service to promote it not only to outsiders but also to their family members.”

As of December 8, a total of 1,092 women have registered and are contributing to the scheme. 

The scheme provides protection against domestic injury and invalidity.

Those who suffer domestic injury will be eligible for medical and permanent disability benefits, facilities for physical or vocational rehabilitation and dialysis, funeral expenses and survivors’ pension.

The protection against invalidity provides benefits such as constant-attendance allowance, facilities for physical or vocational rehabilitation and dialysis, funeral expenses and survivors’ pension.

The implementation of the scheme, which is provided under the Housewives’ Social Security Act 2022, makes Malaysia among four countries in the world to provide social security protection, specifically for women.

Sivakumar said all women are encouraged to join the scheme. 

He said family members and even civil society groups can contribute on behalf of the registrants. 

He said registration can be made seamlessly through the Socso’s portal. 

He said contributions can be made online or paid in cash at all Socso offices. – December 12, 2022.