Deputy human resources minister Mustapha Sakmud said the matter is being studied with the Social Security Organisation (Socso) under the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 and Employment Insurance System Act 2017, as well as other relevant regulations.

“As of Nov 10, a total of 793,116 self-employed individuals are actively contributing under SKSPS and 4,334 claims have been approved amounting to RM24.69 million.

“The Housewife Social Security Scheme (SKSSR), on the other hand, has 197,893 contributors, with 322 claims made totalling RM849,081 as of Nov 5,” he said during question time in the Dewan Rakyat.

He was responding to questions by Awang Hashim (PN-Pendang) and Khoo Poay Tiong (PH-Kota Melaka) on the achievements of the SKSPS and SKSSR programmes, and the latest approaches taken to increase the number of contributors.

Mustapha said the ministry is also actively working to raise awareness among the self-employed, especially those in the gig industry, on the importance of social security protection.