MTUC urges government to expedite the SKKBK scheme

SHAH ALAM - The Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC) has urged the government to introduce the social security protection for non occupational disaster schemes (SKBKK)

In a statement, its president, Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani, said this protection needs to be implemented soon as workers are exposed to accidents 24 hours in a day

"The implementation of SKBBK has indeed been long overdue,because it provides comprehensive protection to workers who experience accidents outside of working hours that are not directly related to work.

"Various benefits also include medical, temporary disability, permanent disability, and physical and vocational rehabilitation facilities," he said in a statement.

Effendy further added that he was very concerned about the fate of those who makes a claim for Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) benefits under the Workers' Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4) and got rejected because the accident suffered is not work-related and is not permitted under the Act.

"Based on SOCSO statistics, more than 26,000 benefit claims have been rejected by SOCSO since 2011 due to accidents that were not work related accidents.

"It is likely that this number is higher because the employee did not file a claim. Therefore, MTUC also urged the government to immediately implement the SKBBK and amend the existing Act.

"SKBBK is an improvement to the existing scheme and can bridge the gap in the social security protection of workers in this country."

"SKKBK protection already exists in developed countries such as New Zealand, the United States, and Canada."

Therefore, the MTUC strongly urges the government to expedite the implementation of SKBBK for the benefit of the people