More coverage under Socso

NST: Socso will cover workers who meet with accidents while on their way to work, and also while driving their spouses to the office or children to school.
The worker will be paid compensation if he or she is injured or dies in an accident while attending a course or workshop at any institute, university or organisation related to his employment, outside his workplace.
These were some of the measures announced by Socso following allegations by the Malaysian Trades Union Congress that Socso’s previous rule only covered employees who travelled a dedicated route from their residence to workplace, and vice-versa.
It also now considered claims from employees who were involved in accidents while travelling between their workplace, and where they took their meals during authorised intervals.
Every year, Socso received about 20,000 such cases, and the compensation paid out totalled RM120 million.

Under the revised guidelines, Socso would now cover an employee if he or she meets with an accident:

• while withdrawing money from the bank located nearest his or her workplace or residence within three days from pay day;
• related to employment pursuant to the employer’s request or order;
• on any route taken in the locality, for example in big cities during peak hours or under specific situations;
• which occurred on a longer route if the insured person used the public transport between his residence and workplace;
• which happened along a route taken by the insured person to avoid any road closure by the authorities or by natural disaster such as flood, riot, chaos, haze, heavy rain, etc, which made the road inaccessible;
• which involved any sports injury that occurred during workers’ day celebration, annual dinner, annual sports day, company excursion, treasure hunt, national parade or state parade, national event, rescue or security activities and charity events;
• any journey made during mealtime for any other purpose other than having a "meal" will depend on the time of the accident; and,
• any interruption for the purpose of refuelling, call of nature, punctured tyre, vehicle breakdown or assisting in any emergency situation or other similar situation.

A Socso official said despite the flexibilities introduced, the body would maintain the rates of contribution which had been in force since 1971.
"The lowest rate of contribution for an insured person is 10 sen, and the highest rate for an insured person earning RM2,900 (with the recent amendment to the coverage ceiling) is RM14.75.
"This is still the lowest compared to premium rates offered by any insurance company," he said.
He added that Socso had always considered the interests of the insured person.
"The insured should understand that Socso must abide by the provisions of the Socso Act which were formulated after consultations with interested parties including workers and employers," he said.