Employers nationwide including employers here in Sarawak are strongly encouraged to take full advantage of the Social Security Organisation’s(PERKESO) amnesty programme, which tentatively until May 31. This initiative allows employers to settle any outstanding Perkeso contributions without facing penalties, compounds, or late charges.
Such amnesty is a significant move to improve social security coverage for workers nationwide and to encourage greater compliance among employers with both Malaysian laws and international standards. Such social security coverage for workers are important in the event of accidents at workplace which will offer protection and support for not just workers involved, but also their family members.
Today, I paid a visit to the family members of an employee who unfortunately passed away in a workplace accident.
The late Chung Jee Fatt, aged 70, passed away on 15 March 2025 due to a workplace accident involving a forklift blade at a factory in the Pending Industrial Estate. The incident was reported at 4:00 PM, where he was found trapped between a stack of pallets with a forklift blade impaled into the left side of his chest.
Upon knowing this predicament PERKESO’s Skuad Prihatin conducted a verification of the late Mr. Chung’s eligibility for PERKESO claims and we are grateful that he was a registered contributor under Act 4 of the Employees’ Social Security Act (AKSP), employed as a factory worker and forklift driver at one of the factories in Kuching.
In response to this tragic incident, alongside PERKESO’s Skuad Prihatin, we visited the late Mr. Chung’s widow to extend our condolences and support. During the visit, we presented her with a PERKESO Prihatin Box which consist of some food aid, and also handed over the PERKESO Funeral Benefit amounting to RM3,000.00, along with documentation for the PERKESO Survivors’ Pension, which was personally delivered by myself and the Sarawak State Director of PERKESO, Mr. Tan Phang Chia, at her residence.
In addition to the Funeral Benefit, the widow, Nikun Anak Gulep, is entitled to receive monthly survivor’s pension payments for life under the PERKESO scheme, helping to ease her financial burden and support her continued livelihood after the tragic loss of her husband.
This incident underscores the critical importance of employers registering and contributing to PERKESO for their employees. Such contributions ensure that workers and their families are protected in the event of workplace accidents. Therefore, I urge all employees to fulfil their obligations under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969. This proactive approach not only ensures compliance but also provides essential protection for the employees of our country.
Employees have the right to check if their employers make the necessary PERKESO contributions to them, and if not, in normal circumstances they will face compounds, legal actions and late payment interest fees(FCLB). That is why, in any case certain employers have not done necessary contributions for their employees, they must then take full advantage of the ongoing PERKESO Amnesty Month.
Let us honour the late Mr Chung by committing to safer workplaces and ensuring that every worker is afforded the protection they deserve.