ALOR SETAR: Part-time media practitioners in the country are urged to register with and contribute to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) to obtain social security protection benefits.

       Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim said the contribution under the Self-Employed Social Security Scheme (SKSPS) will allow the group to receive various benefits including medical, as well as temporary and permanent disability.

       "SKSPS aims to provide protection to self-employed insured persons from occupational accidents including occupational diseases and accidents while on the job. This is to enable part-time journalists to be protected under the provisions of the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017.

       "Through Budget 2022 (themed) 'Keluarga Malaysia', SKSPS provides assistance through the SPS Matching Contribution programme in which the government provides matching contribution assistance of 80%, which is RM186.20, while 20% or RM46.60 is to be paid by self-employed individuals," he said at the Socso programme with media practitioners in the northern region here.

       Also present at the event on Sunday (March 20) were Kedah Information, Communications and Multimedia, Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Committee chairman Romani Wan Salin and state Socso director Mohamad Haron Othman.

       Meanwhile, Awang said today's programme was aimed at helping all part-time media practitioners in the state and Perlis to be covered under the SPS matching contribution for the SPS Seni target group. - Bernama