The SKSSR provides various benefits for housewives, but not many are aware of it.
KUALA LUMPUR: TV and radio advertisements as well as collaboration with village heads and NGOs have been proposed as ways to raise awareness of the social protection scheme for housewives.
While the scheme, known as the Skim Keselamatan Sosial Suri Rumah (SKSSR), was well-received after it was launched by the government in December 2022, the uptake has not been encouraging.
Kasthuri Patto, the chairman of the Socso committee overseeing SKSSR, said less than 10% of the estimated three million housewives have taken it up despite the benefits offered.
The low uptake has been attributed to the lack of awareness of the scheme.
Housewife Sara Swathi said the government should promote the scheme through the radio and TV so that it reaches a wider audience.
“I wish I had known about it sooner,” she told FMT.
She agreed that the RM10 monthly contribution is reasonable and would greatly help those who are facing financial emergencies.
Wan Mohd Sanusi, 36, said he would have considered making a contribution on behalf of his wife had he known about the scheme earlier.
He suggested that the scheme be promoted through the various channels of the mass media.
“I am in the B40 group, so I feel that the RM10 monthly contribution is worth it. We need to protect our housewives. We don’t know what could happen to them unexpectedly,” he said.
Retiree K Gunasegaran, 69, said the government can also boost awareness by collaborating with NGOs and village heads.
“They can gather the people, tell them how useful the scheme is and get them involved in it,” he added.
The scheme offers financial aid to those struck by accidents at home. They include medical benefits, permanent disability benefits, funeral benefits, physical rehabilitation or dialysis facilities and survivors’ pensions for housewives.
Participants, whether married, widowed or single mothers, are required to contribute RM10 per month or RM120 annually to participate in the scheme.
Another housewife, Wahyu Akmal, 31, said the SKSSR is a good option for those who can’t afford other social protection schemes.
“As housewives, sometimes we don’t have anything to fall back on, so this scheme is really worth it. If I have the opportunity, I will sign up for it,” she said.
More efforts needed
Kasthuri told FMT there are plans to leverage social media and enlist influential figures to help meet the target of enrolling 500,000 housewives into the scheme this year.
The former Batu Kawan MP said her committee intends to conduct roadshows targeting large corporations to encourage contributions for B40 women, highlighting the benefits of corporate tax exemptions.
She added that briefing sessions for community leaders will be organised to increase widespread familiarity with the scheme.
“We hope not just MPs and state assemblymen, but all layers of the administration will reach out and tell us if they need briefings in their constituencies,” Kasthuri added.
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