KUCHING: Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri called on housewives nationwide to contribute to the Housewives’ Social Safety Scheme (SKSSR) introduced under the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) last December.
Nancy said the scheme is greatly beneficial to the group as protection in the event of any incident or accident that may affect their ability to manage their household.
“For example, in the case of a housewife, the late Nuratirah Jaafar who died on December 26 last year, her family is eligible to receive a Penakat Pension because she was a SOCSO contributor.
“The granting of this benefit is for the husband and their son. If the child continues his studies up to the university level in the future, SOCSO will also help,” she said.
Nancy, who is also Santubong MP, said this at a press conference after the SOCSO Pension Handover Ceremony to the family of the late Nuratirah in Kampung Bintawa Hilir, here today.
“This shows how important it is to contribute to SOCSO, including for housewives through SKSSR. In fact, husbands and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) can contribute for that group as well,” she said.
Commenting further, she said the case of Nuratirah, 22, who died of unknown causes a day after celebrating her son’s first birthday, was made known to SOCSO through Facebook after the tragic incident went viral on social media.
“The results of SOCSO’s investigation and review found that the heirs of the deceased are eligible to claim the benefits of Penakat Pension under the Disability Scheme, Employee Social Security Act 1969.
“The heirs will receive benefits for the management of her remains amounting to RM2,000 along with a monthly pension until the child reaches the age of 21,” she explained.
Meanwhile, State Social Welfare Department director Tan Phang Chia said there are more than 40,000 housewives in Sarawak currently contributing to SKSSR.
“SKSSR is open to all women, including those who are not married but managing a household,” he said.
Commenting further, he said SOCSO also set up a special team to track down contributors who are in need of assistance.
“We do have a special squad to carry out activities to track down contributors who have been hit by a calamity in Kuching.
“SOCSO does not wait for the public or employers to come forward to report incidents. On the other hand, we take advantage of various sources of information such as social media, newspapers, and television to get information,” he explained.
