KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 23,773 people who have lost their jobs, as of last month, have benefitted from the Employment Insurance System (EIS) programme under the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
Deputy Human Resources Minister Datuk Mahfuz Omar said Socso paid out RM65.1 million to the individuals under the programme since its implementation in January last year.
"Employees who have been retrenched have to file a report with Socso first, and then they will have to go through several processes to receive assistance.
"The programme has benefitted those who were retrenched, except for those who have disciplinary issues, working contracts that were terminated and those who were fired by their employer.
"The applicants can apply for the EIS through an online application or head to any Socso office to receive the assistance," he said at Socso's 48th anniversary celebration at its headquarters here.
EIS was implemented in January last year as a social safety net to help private sector workers who had lost their jobs to get financial assistance and find new jobs.
Under the EIS, employers and employees each contribute 0.2 per cent of an employee's monthly salary.
Mahfuz also said that last year, a total of RM3.7 billion had been paid for various Sosco benefit payments. Between January and June this year, Socso spent about RM2 billion for the similar purpose.
At the anniversary celebration, some 16 recipients who were retrenched from the Karangkraf Media Group received the first batch of the EIS.
On the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme, Mahfuz said Socso will extend the scheme to 18 informal industries which include farming, manufacturing, fisheries and artists.
"We will continue to provide assistance to these industries, and we want them to have a better protection in the future," he added.
Also present was Socso chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.