KUANTAN: Only 337,765 out of more than five million self-employed individuals, or just below 7%, have registered for the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme as of Nov 5, says Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Awang Hashim (pic).

       He said efforts to increase the number of informal sector workers to contribute to the scheme were being intensified by the Social Security Organisation (Socso), to ensure they were properly protected.

       "Those who have not yet contributed are encouraged to do so as soon as possible for their own benefit as the scheme's benefits are not only limited to medical but also include permanent disability, temporary disability, dependants’ benefits and so on.

       "Therefore, we will redouble our efforts to ensure more people contribute and our officers are placed on key performance indicators (KPIs) to... ensure this objective is achieved," he told a press conference after officiating the East Coast Zone Informal-Fisheries Sector Safe and Healthy Work workshop at Kampung Kempadang Public Hall here on Friday (Nov 12).

       He said among the informal sector workers making their own contributions were fisheries with 35,574 workers, passenger transport (15,610 workers), agriculture (1,414 workers) and livestock (138 workers).

       Awang, who is also chairman of the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, said that in Pahang, 11,064 informal sector workers were contributing to the scheme, with 11.3% or 1,244 contributors from the fisheries sector.

       "We will work with the Malaysian Fisheries Development Authority to raise awareness of the protection this scheme (offers) among fishermen nationwide because their work is also risky,” he said.

       On a related development, he said a total of 679 accidents in the agriculture, fisheries and forestry sectors were recorded by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health as of September, 11 of them resulting in death. – Bernama