PUTRAJAYA: The Communications Ministry is looking into ways of increasing retirement benefits for media practitioners, including through the Employees Provident Fund (EPF).
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said this followed the ministry’s success in managing Social Security Organisation (Socso) contributions for media practitioners.
“I have conveyed this matter to several agencies under the ministry for us to look into and determine the best mechanisms for implementation,” he said after handing over contributions from the Tabung Kasih@Hawana to a cameraman from Malaysia Gazette here on Wednesday (July 3).
Fahmi said it would take some time to discuss the matter, including with EPF, to provide more benefits for media practitioners.
Fahmi said that since Monday (July 1), almost 600 part-time media practitioners or stringers have benefitted from the Socso contributions announced in May.
He said that with this social protection, media practitioners can work without worry if anything happens to them.
During the National Journalists’ Day (Hawana) celebration on May 27, Fahmi announced that the ministry would cover Socso contributions for 565 part-time media practitioners for a year.
These contributions will be channelled through Bernama, the national news agency. – Bernama
