Human resources minister M Saravanan said following discussions, his ministry saw the need to protect the group which had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic, especially if their husbands are family breadwinners and are unable to find work.

“In this situation, if the husband is out of work and the wife has a chronic illness, they have no safety net.

“As a government that cares and prioritises the people’s welfare, we recommend that this move be considered to provide two million B40 housewives with a free safety net protection,” he said after presenting Socso benefits to the widow of the late Vijaya Kumaran T Veerasamy here today.

Vijaya died on May 21 after suffering brain damage following a road accident on April 12 last year.

Prior to this, the deceased’s medical treatments, which included implant surgery amounting to RM23,000, were fully paid by Socso.

Earlier, the government had agreed to make payments to 150,000 women in the B40 group registered under e-Kasih.

Meanwhile, on the labour shortage in the plantation sector, Saravanan said the nation currently needed 100,000 workers to fill up job vacancies.

“However, foreign workers will be hired as a last resort,” he said, adding that the ministry would continue to give priority to locals, despite pressure from plantation sector employers and possible impact on the national income.