Calling the plan a step in the right direction, he said it was crucial that no one is left behind, and that benefits must be made “portable across borders” for migrant workers.

“The migrant workers who build Malaysia must be protected at their places of work. We must ensure that survivor’s benefits and invalidity pensions reach families,” he said in a post on X.

Santiago said the scheme’s success hinged on the accessibility of claims and enforcement, and called for digital tools that are user-friendly, multilingual and supported by offline help.

“Without clear reporting channels and penalties for non-compliance, this will only be lip service,” he said.

Santiago also called for greater collaboration with unions and groups in the planning of the policy, saying Malaysia must “get it right from day one”.

“One injury can push a B40 family into poverty within weeks.

“Include unions, migrant worker groups, women organisations, disability advocates, occupational safety hazard experts and community clinics in policy designs so that no one falls through the cracks,” he said.

Yesterday, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia would soon introduce a non-employment injury scheme to ensure that workers are protected beyond office hours.

His announcement followed a similar one by human resources minister Steven Sim last month that amendments to the Employees Social Security Act 1969 were in the works to provide 24-hour social security protection for employees under the Social Security Organisation.

The amendments to the bill are expected to be tabled in Parliament this year.