SKBBK TO EASE WORKERS’ BURDEN, REDUCE STRAIN ON HEALTH SYSTEM - SIM

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The soon-to-be introduced Non-Employment Injury Scheme (SKBBK) will not only help ease the financial burden of workers and their families but also reduce pressure on the country’s healthcare system, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Human Resource Minister Steven Sim said statistics from the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) showed that between 2018 and Aug 31 this year, over 538,000 employment injury claim applications were received, of which nearly 27,000 were rejected.

He said 87 per cent of the rejected claims were due to cases not being categorised as work-related accidents, rendering the insured persons and their dependents ineligible to receive any benefits.

“This situation not only affects the financial wellbeing of workers and their families but also puts further strain on the public healthcare system.

“A recent audit report showed that outstanding medical bills as of Dec 31, 2024, had reached RM360 million,” he said during the Minister’s Question Time.

He was responding to a question from Datuk Mohd Isam Mohd Isa (BN-Tampin) who wanted to know the government’s plans to provide 24-hour social security protection for all workers, including shift, part-time and gig workers.

Sim said the SKBBK, to be implemented under PERKESO, will provide 24-hour protection to eligible workers in the course of their employment, including coverage for accidents that occur outside of work and not directly related to their job.

“With the implementation of the SKBBK, PERKESO will cover the medical bills of contributors who are involved in non-work-related accidents,” he added.

On the Gig Workers Bill, Sim said the government will offer better protection to gig workers, who previously only received coverage after making contributions.

“Through this bill, protection will be provided first -- meaning that once a person is registered as a gig worker, even before paying a single sen in contributions, PERKESO will consider them covered and provide full protection,” he said.

He was responding to a supplementary question from Datuk Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) who asked about the extent to which gig economy workers are protected under the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017, given that they are currently only covered when actively contributing.

-- BERNAMA