LETTER | After decades of urging the government to extend social security (Socso) protection on a 24-hour basis, trade unions, concerned civil society organisations and workers welcomed the government’s decision to implement the “Lindung 24 Jam” Socso coverage.

The scheme was to roll out in June 2026.

While there were some voices of discontent that the additional Socso monthly contribution of 0.75 percent of an employee’s salary ought to be paid wholly by the employee, there were no objections to the introduction of the scheme among workers and trade unions.

Though that be the fact, for some godforsaken reason, the cabinet ministers, exhibiting a complete lack of empathy, have elected to modify participation in the “Lindung 24 Jam” scheme to be voluntary for Malaysians.

While that decision is, in itself, incomprehensible, the policy decision to compel migrant workers to participate in the said scheme is discriminatory given the fact that all workers, regardless of their nationality, ought to be treated equally.

Having served as the workers' representative (assessor) on the Socso Appellate Board, I have seen too many cases of workers' injury claims being rejected by Socso for the reason that the said injury was not an employment injury.

In those circumstances, the “Lindung 24 Jam” plan was a much-awaited and welcomed initiative that would have addressed the need for social security protection for workers incapacitated by injuries sustained outside their working hours.

When both the Human Resources Ministry and Socso pieced together the “Lindung 24 Jam” programme it would have done so after ascertaining the purposefulness of the scheme.

But then the motley bunch of meddlesome cabinet ministers, preposterously, decided to tweak the progressive effort by the Human Resources Ministry and Socso by turning the scheme into a voluntary one!

Socso safety nets are essential components in ensuring that workers are adequately protected when misfortune, such as illnesses or injuries, occurs. And it would be the primary obligation of both the government and employers to devise, implement, and finance such safety nets.

Just like contributions to the Employees’ Provident Fund and Socso’s Invalidity Pension and Employment Injury schemes, contributions to the “Lindung 24 Jam” scheme should also be made mandatory.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.