PUTRAJAYA: Employees earning salaries up to RM3,000 a month must now contribute to the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn today announced that the Employees Social Security Act 1969 (Amendment 2004) which had been gazetted last April 28 had come into effect from May 1. Before the amendment to the Act came into force only those earning less than RM2,000 a month needed to contribute to Socso.
"Now more workers will be protected with social security," he said after chairing his ministry's post-Cabinet meeting here today.
According to Fong, Socso's headquarters was in the process of sending out Employers Circular No 1 2005 to employers regarding the matter.
Employers, he said, could also visit Socso's website at www.perkeso.gov.my to get of a copy of the circular or contact the nearest Socso office for more information.
Fong said he hoped that employers would give their cooperation in renewing their lists of workers to include those in the RM2,000 to RM3,000 income brackets to Socso by this month.
Until now, of the 10 million registered workers in the country, approximately 4.7 million were active contributors to Socso, he said.
"With the enforcing of the amendment to the Act, the number of contributors is estimated to increase between 300,000 and 400,000," he said.
Fong said Socso now collected contributions of RM1.2 billion a year and expected the amount to increase between RM100 million and RM200 million yearly following the amendment. - Bernama