PERKESO Provides Food Delivery Rider In Coma With Over RM7,000 And Other Benefits
34-year-old Muhammad Hafizi Idris is currently in Sungai Buloh Hospital's neurosurgery ward, after slipping into coma following an accident six months ago.
By Jeremy Ng — 01 Mar 2023, 03:17 PM
Yesterday, 28 February, Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar made a trip to Sungai Buloh Hospital to visit Muhammad Hafizi Idris, a delivery rider who has been in a coma since a work-related accident six months ago
Hafizi was on his motorcycle delivering a food order when he met with an accident on Jalan Sungai Haji Dorani, Sungai Besar, Selangor on 29 August 2022, at 6.30pm.
The 34-year-old was sent to Tengku Ampuan Jemaah Hospital, Sabak Bernam for early care before being transferred to Sungai Buloh Hospital's neurosurgery ward on the same day for further treatment.
Hafizi suffered from internal bleeding in the head, a broken arm, and several other injuries. He is still currently in coma.
The accident happened just 10 months after Hafizi married his wife, Norfarahin Jamsari, 25, who has been going back and forth between Tanjong Karang and the hospital to look after Hafizi.
As a contributor to the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS), Hafizi is eligible to receive over RM7,000 in Temporary Disablement Benefits from the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO).
During the visit, Sivakumar handed the benefits to Norfarahin.
"I hope this financial benefit can help [Hafizi's] wife to manage personal and household expenses incurred since he was hospitalised. Besides that, PERKESO will also bear the cost of medical treatment and rehabilitation equipment such as ripple mattress, diapers, and others," said Sivakumar.
Sivakumar also urged self-employed Malaysians to be careful on the road and ensure they are covered by SKSPS
According to PERKESO, up to 1,509 gig riders covered by SKSPS were involved in accidents in 2022, whereby 32 cases resulted in death.
An estimated 125 claim submissions by gig workers from PERKESO were also rejected, with reasons mainly due to not renewing SKSPS contributions or failing to contribute.
For Norfarahin, she admitted that her current circumstances have been challenging, but she is thankful for the financial help provided by PERKESO
"At the moment, I feel quite burdened in terms of income, but alhamdulillah, the benefits from PERKESO have really helped in terms of my own expenditure and commitments like monthly payments for the car and motorcycle," shared Norfarahin.
She decided to take a break from working as a salesperson since January to take care of her husband. Speaking to other delivery riders and gig workers, Norfarahin urged them to contribute to SKSPS.
"We cannot predict the future. If an accident happens, the family will have to bear the consequences. So, contribute," she added.
PERKESO encourages self-employed Malaysians and gig economy workers to protect themselves against unexpected mishaps during self-employment activities by making regular contributions to SKSPS
SKSPS was introduced to provide protection for individuals who are self-employed under the provisions of the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017.
Through SKSPS, self-employed Malaysians and gig workers are insured against employment injuries, including occupational diseases and accidents during work-related activities.
According to PERKESO, there are around 2.1 million self-employed Malaysians, but most of them do not have self-employment coverage
In fact, only 34% of self-employed Malaysians are protected by SKSPS.
For the rest that are not protected, if they were to sustain an occupational injury or disease, they would have to bear the cost of treatment or rehabilitation entirely on their own.
Here's a closer look at what SKSPS coverage entails:
Medical Benefit:
- Free medical treatment or reimbursement for medical treatment
Temporary Disablement Benefit:
- RM30 to RM105.33 per day for each medical leave day
Permanent Disablement Benefit:
- Lump sum payment (90% of selected insured monthly earning)
Constant Disablement Benefit:
- RM500 per month
Dependants' Benefit:
- Monthly pension for dependant (90% of selected insured monthly earning)
Funeral Benefit:
- Actual amount incurred or RM2,000, whichever is lower
Education Benefit:
- Provided in the form of loans to dependant child
Facilities for Physical or Vocational Rehabilitation:
- Free of charge
Contribution payments for SKSPS start from as low as RM13.10 per month, and can be made on a monthly or yearly basis. Self-employed Malaysians can conveniently pay by cash at all PERKESO offices or online via Internet banking.
If you're a self-employed individual or gig worker, find out how you can sign up for SKSPS on PERKESO's website today
