Total of RM11.19mn paid in compensation to Malaysia employees infected with COVID-19 at the workplace

In terms of the breakdown, the Minister shared that more than RM10mn was paid to local workers involving 13,170 cases, while over RM1mn was paid to foreign workers comprising 1,866 cases.

Malaysia's Deputy Minister for Human Resources, Awang Hashim, has revealed that Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO, or SOCSO) has paid over RM11.19mn in compensation in total to employees infected with COVID-19 at the workplace, as of 18 September. This involved a total of 15,036 cases, Minister Awang said at a media conference after observing the COVID-19 Immunisation Outreach Programme in the Pendang district, Kedah.

In terms of the breakdown, the Minister shared that more than RM10mn was paid to local workers involving 13,170 cases, while over RM1mn was paid to foreign workers comprising 1,866 cases.

Based on Bernama's report, Minister Awang added: "Apart from that, more than RM3.5mn was paid out for the funeral arrangements of 1,792 cases involving local workers who died of COVID-19. As for fatalities involving foreign workers, PERKESO has paid out RM3,500 for the funeral arrangement of two cases."

With regard to the COVID-19 Immunisation Outreach Programme, an initiative to get locals up to speed with vaccination, the Minister spoke on Kedah's progress.

"We are aware of the fact, as announced by the Minister for Health, Khairy Jamaluddin, that the rate for full vaccination among adults eligible for vaccine jabs in the district is still low." (47.7% of the population are fully-vaccinated as of 25 September)

He added: "As such, we are helping to expedite the vaccination process among the residents by going to the villages to help raise the number of registrants and awareness on the importance of vaccination towards creating herd immunity."

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Image / Deputy Minister for HR Awang Hashim's Facebook