KUALA LUMPUR: It should be mandatory for informal workers to contribute to social security coverage in the future given the rising trend in self-employment.
Social Security Organisation (Socso) group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said currently there are many who deemed contribution for social protection, a burden.
"I agree that moving forward we have to find ways to make it mandatory. "Today most of us regard social protection contributions as a burden instead of an investment. We have to educate all stakeholders to ensure that they could see the contribution as an investment.
"This would make it much easier to devise policies to make the contribution mandatory," he told reporters at the 40th Asean Social Security Association (ASSA) Seminar and Board Meeting.
He added that Malaysia could seek examples from other countries in the region that have made it mandatory for those who are self-employed to have social security coverage.
Meanwhile, the ASSA had inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the International Social Security Association (ISSA) to pursue an inclusive, adequate and sustainable social protection system in Asean.
The MoU established a framework for cooperation between ISSA as the leading international organisation for social security institutions, government departments and agencies, and ASSA, a forum of social security institutions from the Asean countries.
Through this partnership, both organisations are committed to promote knowledge sharing as well as cultivate innovative approaches to solve social security challenges such as coverage gaps in the social protection system.
Representing more than 19 ISSA members and non-member institutions, the MoU serves to also streamline resources and coordinate international social security activities in the region.