GOVT MULLING RAISING QUANTUM OF SOCSO CONTRIBUTIONS

PUTRAJAYA, Dec 2 (Bernama) -- The government may consider raising the quantum of
workers' contributions to the Social Security Organisation (Sosco) in two years'
time as per the recommendation of the International Labour Organisation (ILO),
Human Resources Minister Dr S. Subramaniam said Thursday.

He said a raise would be necessary due to the rising value of compensation paid
out by Socso annually.

Last year, Socso paid out up to RM1.4 billion in compensation to workers
involved in accidents compared to the RM1.8 billion it collected as
contributions, he said. (US$1=RM3.16)

The payments had been rising over the last five years, with those for 2005 being
only RM830 million, he said when opening a seminar on occupational safety and
health in the small and medium industries.

Statistics indicate that 55,186 accidents involving workers were reported last
year, and a large number of these workers were riding or hitching a ride on
motorcycles to and from the workplace.

Dr Subramaniam did not disclose the quantum of raise recommended by the ILO but
said the government did not intend to increase the rate of contribution now
although it had never done so since 1969.

A decision would only be made after careful consideration, including enforcing
regulations pertaining to workers' safety on the employers, he said.

For the record, last year the Department of Occupational Safety and Health
(DOSH) prosecuted 160 employers found to have failed to provide a safe working
environment.
-- BERNAMA