Up till last year, the Employees’ Social Security Act 1979 has been amended nine times since it was introduced in 1979, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Human Resources Minister Maznah Mazlan said early this year, the Social Security Organisation (Socso) had reviewed the act to ensure it was in line with the proposal to raise retirement age and determine the minimum wage.

socso claims “This was to ensure improvement of the protection of workers’ social security.

“Socso, from time to time, also reviewed the provisions of the act so that it was in tune with the current situation," she said when replying to a question by Abdullah Sani Abdul Hamid (PKR-Kuala Langat).

Abdullah wanted to know if studies were carried out on the suitability of provisions under Socso as the provisions were old and no longer appropriate, in line with current needs.

To a supplementary question by Abdullah on whether Socso issued statements to its depositors, Maznah said the matter was being considered as there was a need for depositors to know the amount of deduction.

“The process to upgrade the Socso information technology system is being carried out so that when the amendment is made, depositors would be able to get their statements,” she said.

Replying to a question by Hamim Samuri (BN-Ledang) on whther Socso would set a higher rate of compensation to depositors, Maznah said Socso carried out an actuarial study every five years, taking into consideration the current cost of living.

She said, last year, a revision on the rate of pension to depositors was raised from 0.6 percent to 11.3 percent.

- Bernama