According to Steven Sim Chee Keong, 405 housewives received benefits under the Housewives Social Security Scheme in 2023. The total payment amount involved was RM1.094 million. Out of this number, 31 insured housewives (SRB) received permanent disability benefits, 20 received maternity allowances, 46 received compensation payments for medical benefits and physical rehabilitation facilities, 319 received funeral management benefits, and 228 received old-age pension benefits.
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Sim mentioned that the Social Security Organisation (Socso) has recorded a total of 201,383 SRBs registered under this scheme. The goal for this year is to have at least 500,000 housewives register for the scheme, acknowledging their contribution to the country’s economy.
Sim stated, “Although we view housewives as caregivers without a salary, they are actually workers in the gift economy and should be provided with protection, care, and rights just like workers in other sectors. That is one of Socso’s goals, and under our Madani government, we want to expand this initiative so that more people will benefit.”
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Sim also mentioned that his ministry is working to expand the outreach program to increase awareness about the scheme and the importance of contributing to it. The Kesuma Madani program aims to assist in achieving this goal and was held in conjunction with Thaipusam at the Waterfall Hill Temple in Jalan Kebun Bunga on Jan 21.
Through the program, volunteers assisted with public logistics management on Thaipusam day and opened service counters to allow the public to register for schemes under Socso. Sim hopes that women, especially housewives, will take advantage of this opportunity to register and receive necessary protection.
Sim mentioned that 150 Kesuma Wira volunteers, consisting of trainees from industrial training institutes (ILPs) under the Human Resources Ministry, were sent to the temple to support the public, especially the elderly and persons with disabilities, during the Thaipusam celebration on Jan 25. – Bernama
