PETALING JAYA: With impact from Friday (April 1), all Covid-19 associated profit claims are being processed as occupational illness claims, says the Social Security Organisation (Socso).
However, contributors eligible to obtain Covid-19 advantages have now been restricted to sure professions.
“If contributors want to make Covid-19 profit claims, it’s nonetheless up for consideration, (however) restricted to occupations which are uncovered to organic brokers and infections,” Socso mentioned in a press release on Sunday (April 3).
“The utility shall be processed as an occupational illness and the eligible insured individuals will obtain advantages under the occupational catastrophe scheme or incapacity scheme.
“This covers non permanent incapacity, everlasting incapacity, retirement pension, incapacity pension and funeral administration advantages,” it added.
Socso mentioned beforehand, Covid-19 profit claims had been processed as an employment harm as a substitute of an occupational illness because it wished to assist affected staff.
The transfer to now course of Covid-19 profit claims as an occupational illness was in keeping with the announcement made by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob that the nation was transferring into the endemic section from April 1, it added.
“This is seen as well timed as financial actions all through the nation are beginning to present constructive improvement and extra individuals are already again to work.
“It can also be in keeping with the ‘exit technique’ devised by the federal government in order that the nation can return to a close to regular life after greater than two years at conflict with Covid-19,” it mentioned.
For Covid-19 profit declare purposes involving contributors who had been confirmed constructive earlier than April 1, Socso mentioned the claims would nonetheless be processed as an employment harm.
Socso added that the Fifth Schedule of the Employment Social Security Act 1969 underlined occupational ailments as these arising out of and in the middle of employment.
As Covid-19 was listed as a illness specified within the Fifth Schedule, it may very well be thought of an occupational illness if it met prescribed situations, Socso added.
“Other infectious ailments under the class of occupational ailments embody the Nipah virus, tuberculosis and leptospirosis,” it mentioned.
It additionally mentioned that as of March 26, it had obtained a complete of 132,988 Covid-19 profit claims involving each native and international staff.
From these claims, over RM133mil had been paid out for the reason that provision of the advantages began had been rolled out on Feb 24 final 12 months.
Socso additionally mentioned that whereas the affect of the pandemic on the nation had been sudden, it had additionally taken the social safety ecosystem to the next stage.
For extra data, discuss with the Socso web site www.perkeso.gov.my, name the Socso Careline quantity at 1-300-22-8000 or electronic mail [email protected].
