Public Urged to Make Use of EIS, Socso Benefits

Datuk Mahfuz Omar, Deputy Human Resources Minister urge qualified retrenched employees to apply for the Employment Insurance System (EIS) benefit, The Star reports. He also said that those who have been laid off could go to any of the 54 offices of the Social Security Organisation (Socso) nationwide. 

“Applications must be filed within 60 days from the day a worker loses his job. They can also file their application online, via Socso's website at www.perkeso.gov.my/sip,” he said after presenting EIS benefits to 25 retrenched employees in December.

They are among the earliest batch of recipients who received their full EIS benefit for the first month, ranging from RM1,700 - RM3,160 depending on their monthly contributions. The Deputy Human Resources Minister said that as of 14 December 2018, a total of 22,268 retrenched workers have applied for EIS since it was implemented in January 2018.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Mahfuz Omar. Image credit: The Star

In the beginning, many employers rejected the scheme, but there was support for it to move forward as it was necessary to ensure a social security net for retrenched workers.  Under the EIS, eligible workers receive up to RM600 a month for a maximum of three months.

Employees who are retrenched in 2018 will be qualified to receive interim benefits in the form of cash allowances for a maximum of three months, funded by the government with a RM122 million allocation channeled through Socso. Those who are retrenched in December 2018 onwards with the minimum 11 months of EIS contributions are eligible for the full benefits, such as job-hunting, re-employment and reduced wage allowances.

EIS is a financial scheme aimed to help those who have lost their jobs until they find new employment. The contributions are collected in a fund to provide financial assistance to retrenched workers.

Eligibility for EIS include forced resignation, retrenchment, closure of a company or factory, resignation due to an employer’s failure to comply with the terms of contract, resignation due to sexual harassment.

Socso urges public to make full use of its benefits

In other news, Socso is urging the public to make full use of its benefits. According to Socso, many are unaware of its benefits which is entitled to all those who have been contributing to the fund from their monthly salary.

Recently, two recipients received lifetime support from Socso in the form of monthly payments, calculated based on a percentage of the last drawn salary of their deceased family member.

Lim Kwee Ming’s wife passed away in May 2018 and he is entitled to receive a one-off RM2,000 funeral aid and a monthly payment, which is 65% of his wife’s last drawn salary. Another recipient, Ngu Leng You also received funeral aid and monthly payment even after 18 years since her son’s death.

Many are unaware of Socso benefits. Image credit: The Star

Socso Selangor deputy director Mohamad Ramli Ahmad Dahalan said “Actually such benefits have been around since 1985 and everyone who contributes to Socso is eligible to apply for it.”

He also said that the lifetime monthly benefits were usually given to the deceased’s spouse. It is also given to the deceased’s children who are below the age of 21 years or until they receive their first degree in higher education.

“For example, if the deceased was earning about RM4,000 per month based on his salary slip for the past two years, the beneficiary will receive 65% which is about RM2,567 per month.

“If the deceased earned RM3,000, then we will give out RM1,917 per month to the spouse for life,” he said.

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