Perkeso's Lindung 24 Jam scheme safeguards workers' income

KUALA LUMPUR - The Social Security Organisation's (Perkeso) Non-Employment Injury Scheme, or Lindung 24 Jam, ensures that workers and their families do not lose their source of income in the event of an accident or death.

Perkeso deputy chief executive officer (Strategy and Corporate) Edmund Cheong Peck Huang said the scheme was introduced to protect thousands of workers who are not eligible for benefits under the existing Employment Injury Scheme.

"In 2024, of the more than 80,000 accident cases reported to Perkeso, over 20,000 were rejected because they did not meet the definition of an employment injury under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4).

"This shows that some workers fall outside the social security protection net when faced with unforeseen circumstances,” he said during Bernama TV's Ruang Bicara programme last night.

Cheong said the scheme extends protection to workers involved in accidents while carrying out daily activities such as sports, jogging, picnics or family outings.

He said if a young worker earning RM1,700 a month dies in an accident, his family and children could receive Dependants' Benefit amounting to hundreds of thousands of ringgit over the eligible payment period.

Cheong described Lindung 24 Jam as an evolution of Perkeso's Employment Injury Scheme, introduced in 1971 to cover accidents occurring at the workplace or while using employer-provided transportation.

He said the legislation was enhanced in the early 1990s through Section 24 to extend coverage to accidents occurring while commuting between home and the workplace.

"However, the employment landscape has changed significantly following the Covid-19 pandemic, with the implementation of flexible work arrangements and a growing number of workers operating in mobile environments without clear boundaries between home and the workplace.

"Today, accidents can happen anywhere. Many employees work flexibly and move from one location to another. Therefore, Lindung 24 Jam was introduced to ensure workers are protected at all times,” he said.

On additional contributions, Cheong said the scheme would be implemented in phases to ensure affordability, particularly for low-income workers.

The contribution rate will start at 0.75 per cent, rising to one per cent and 1.25 per cent in later phases, with a worker earning RM1,700 a month contributing about RM11. - BERNAMA