By Zaki Salleh
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 188,102 housewives have contributed to the Social Security Scheme for Housewives (SKSSR) as of September 24th.
The Minister of Human Resources, V Sivakumar, stated that this number includes 166,666 housewives from B40 families whose contribution payments are subsidized by the government. The remaining 21,436 participants are voluntary contributors.
“In terms of the breakdown by state, 6,636 SKSSR contributors were recorded in Pahang,” he said.
As of June, a total of RM254,617 in SKSSR benefits were disbursed to housewives and their families.
Apart from husbands, third parties such as non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and private companies are encouraged to contribute as part of their corporate social responsibility to safeguard the welfare of housewives.
Additionally, he mentioned that employers who hire workers in vulnerable categories such as persons with disabilities (OKU), women, individuals who have lost their jobs, the hardcore poor, individuals on parole, and former prisoners can receive benefits under the Career Empowerment Program.
Through this program, he said, employers can receive incentives of up to RM1,800 for a three-month period for each hired worker.