In a significant move to enhance social security for transportation professionals, Transport Minister Anthony Loke has announced that the Malaysian government will fully subsidize Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) subscriptions for 35,000 taxi drivers and 18,000 school bus drivers across the nation starting next month. The free SOCSO Subscriptions for Taxi and School Bus Drivers initiative aims to provide vital social protection to these drivers, particularly in the event of accidents.
During a media conference following the ministry’s Sua Kasih MADANI programme, Loke revealed that the Finance Ministry has allocated RM100 million to cover up to 90% of the SOCSO subscriptions for a range of drivers including those in the taxi, e-hailing, and p-hailing sectors. The Transport Ministry (MOT) will contribute the remaining 10% of the subscription costs for one year, ensuring that eligible taxi and school bus drivers will not have to bear any of the subscription costs themselves.
The initiative was developed after discussions with SOCSO and the Land Public Transport Agency (APAD) to finalize the implementation details and compile a list of eligible drivers. Loke assured that the process for drivers to benefit from this subsidy is straightforward: “Taxi drivers and school bus drivers donโt have to contribute a single cent for SOCSO subscriptions for a year, they just have to register their names.”
This announcement is part of a broader effort to provide better social security measures for workers in the transportation sector, recognizing the risks they face in their daily operations. By covering the SOCSO subscriptions, the government aims to alleviate some of the financial pressures on taxi and school bus drivers, allowing them to focus on providing safe and reliable transportation services.
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