Why must the Malaysian government pay housewife who HAVE to stay at home looking after kids or other elderly? Because this is WORK, or 'care work' and thus they must be paid by the State.
It is the duty of the government to take care of all in Malaysia - kids and adults, but sadly the government does not provide CARE facilities - hence forcing an adult who could be out there working and earning to stay at home, and that is why the government must pay housewife or other adults who have to stay home to care for children, elderly and even the sick.
For the RICH, T20 or some of M40, they can afford to get a Domestic Worker, which cost a lot, to look after children, elderly and even the sick >>> but that is not an OPTION available to the poor B40 and lower M40.
Now, in Malaysia, it is very difficult for the B40 and even some of the M40 to survive on the income of a SOLE Bread winner - so reasonably both have to work for the family. But, because one adult has to remain at home to look after children or the elderly, this causes great difficulty for the poorer B40 and M40 households.
What do the adult(usually the housewife) sacrifice. She could have been gainfully employed or actively involved in an income generating business - which naturally with tenure and experience garnered, she would be earning more and more income.
Some may say, so sad -but it is their fate. They have accept their reality and sacrifice to stay at home looking after kids or the elderly parents - If they were rich, they could afford a domestic worker or two - and still be employed or involved in other income generating income.
TOO BAD, you do not understand how society really CARES - that is why there is preferential option for the poor... in terms of taxation, etc..
Malaysia has an obligation to treat every person equally - that is both men and women, both husband and wife, and both the partner that go and earn an income through employment or other income generating activity and the one that remains home to care for children, elderly and other sick/disabled member of the family.
In Malaysia, it has started...
The government has realized that they simply cannot care for the family - they have to care for the husband and the wife. Who knows what will happen in the future? Couples may separate -- so social protection for EACH should be in place.
1. Housewives’ Social Security Scheme - Housewives’ Social Security Act 2022 - GOOD provides social security for Housewives
2. Housewife's Employees Provident Fund Account - a program, not yet law - best made a LAW, and the contribution should not be from husband, maybe the government itself.
RECOGNIZING care Work - Government PAY for Housewives in Home taking care of children/elderly/etc
Now, Malaysia must take the next step in recognizing housework and caring work by housewives as WORK - where the Government Must Pay..
This will help overcome poverty within the B40 and M40...
How much should the government pay in recognition of the work and sacrifice of housewife in caring for children, elderly and members of family that require attention (plus housework possibly)? For a start, it should maybe be not less than MINIMUM WAGE
This will help uplift the income of the family - and will also LIFT THE DIGNITY of women involved caring work and housework - which to date is unrecognized.
MONEY - Does the government have the MONEY - of course, government makes money and instead of spending for useless things, it can be spend om the people
About 2.4 million housewives - and RM1 billion will allow them to get RM415 for one 1 month, so all we need is about RM24 billion, and every housewife with kids/elderly who has to stay at home and care can get about RM830 per month for a year. [Of course, those in the T20 can be excluded - so can those who are already earning an income - thus much less]
So, Prime Minister Anwar and the PH-led unity government - do you want to pay housewives that stay at home to care for children/elderly a CARE INCOME of maybe at least RM1,000 a month > it will also alleviate poverty, give DIGNITY to women noting that Malaysia CARES..
EPF LAUNCHES i-SAYANG ENABLING HUSBANDS TO CONTRIBUTE 2% TO WIVES EPF ACCOUNT
KWASA DAMANSARA, 8 March 2023: The Employees Provident Fund (EPF) in collaboration with the Ministry of Women, Family and Community Development (KPWKM), announces i-Sayang, a facility to enable husbands to voluntarily transfer two (2) per cent of their EPF monthly contributions to their wives account for their future income wellbeing.
YAB Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim launched i-Sayang at the International Women’s Day 2023 celebration held at Dewan Perdana Felda, Kuala Lumpur, attended by Minister of KPWKM YB Dato’ Sri Nancy Shukri, EPF Chairman Tan Sri Ahmad Badri Mohd Zahir, and EPF Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan.
EPF Chief Executive Officer Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan said, “The i-Sayang facility is part of EPF’s ongoing efforts to further expand the social protection net to family institutions and encourage more Malaysians, who are not covered by any formal social protection scheme, to save for their retirement future.
“By enabling husbands to voluntarily contribute two per cent of their EPF monthly contribution, they would provide the opportunity for their wives to have long-term savings in addition to gaining access to the quality social security and income security currently enjoyed by EPF members.”
About 2.4 million housewives in the country are not in any employment or are outside the labour force, hence are not covered by any form of social protection, leaving them more vulnerable to adversities or financial shocks.
The i-Sayang initiative is in line with the Government’s commitment to empowering rights and
taking care of women’s welfare, in addition to applying family values in
line with the concept of Malaysia MADANI, which is based on the
characteristics of inclusion, togetherness and gratitude.
Applications for i-Sayang can be made online through EPF i-Akaun (Member) or at any EPF counters nationwide.
Further information on i-Sayang can be obtained from here, or call the EPF Contact Management Centre at 03-8922 6000.
Issued by the EPF Media Desk
Corporate Affairs Department
8 March 2023 - EPF/KWSP Website
Housewives’ Social Security Scheme
The Housewives’ Social Security Scheme (SKSSR) was implemented on 1 December 2022 under the Housewives’ Social Security Act 2022, aimed at providing social security protection to housewives against domestic injury and invalidity while managing the household.
Contribution
A contribution of RM120 shall be paid in advance, covering a period of 12 consecutive months. Such contributions may be made for and on behalf of the housewife, by her husband, the housewife, family members or any third party.
Eligibility
- Malaysian citizens / permanent residents
- Housewives who have not reached the age of 55/not yet reached the age of 54 on the first date contribution made to SKSSR
- Advance payment of contributions, which covers a period of 12 months.
Coverage
- SKSSR provides protection to housewives against domestic accidents
or other incidents in the course of performing their household duties
and affairs.
- SKSSR also protects housewives who are afflicted with illness or invalidity.
Domestic Accident Protection Benefits
Housewives affected by domestic injury may seek medical treatment and outpatient treatment at hospitals, clinics or other institutions.
Housewives who suffer one or more permanent disabilities arising from domestic accidents, may apply and shall be entitled to a lump sum payment of Permanent Disablement Benefits upon recommendation of a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board.
Paid monthly to housewives who receive Permanent Disablement Benefit or Morbid Allowance as a result of severe incapacity to the extent that personal care of other people is constantly required.
A one-off funeral benefit of RM2,000 shall be paid to eligible dependants in the event that the insured housewife dies before reaching the age of 55.
Housewives will be eligible recipients of this allowance upon recommendation of a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board. Payment of allowance will cease when the housewife reaches the age of 55 or dies.
Physical Rehabilitation or Dialysis Facilities
Physical Rehabilitation or Dialysis facilities shall be provided to eligible housewives after being certified as having permanent disability or invalidity by a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board.
If necessary, housewives will be provided with prosthetics, orthotics or other devices, at no cost.
In the event that a housewife dies as a result of a domestic injury or while receiving Morbid Allowance, provided death occurs before the age of 55, a Survivors’ Pension shall be paid to her eligible dependants - including her widower until he reaches the age of 55 or dies, and to each child up to the age of 21 or until they are married. If the deceased housewife leaves behind no widower or child, the pension shall be paid to the mother or father until the age of 55 or dies.
Survivors' Pension will continue to be paid to children who are studying until they complete their first degree or until they are married. This pension shall be paid continuously to mentally or physically disabled children who are unable to support themselves, until the age of 55.
Invalidity Protection Benefits
Paid monthly to housewives who suffer from disability upon recommendation of a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board.
Housewives shall be considered disabled as a result of an accident which leaves her unable to carry out most of her household activities.
Payment of this allowance shall cease when the housewife recovers from the disability or when she reaches the age of 55 or dies.
Paid monthly to housewives who receive Morbid Allowance or Permanent Disablement Benefit due to severe incapacity to the point of constantly requiring personal care of others.
Housewives shall be eligible to receive this allowance after being certified by a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board. Payments of the allowance shall cease when the housewife reaches the age of 55 or dies.
Physical Rehabilitation or Dialysis facilities are provided to eligible housewives after being certified to suffer from invalidity or permanent disability by a medical assessor or Appellate Medical Board.
If necessary, housewives shall also be provided with prosthetics, orthotics or other devices, at no cost.
A one-off funeral benefit of RM2,000 shall be paid to eligible dependents if the insured housewife dies before reaching the age of 55.
In the event that a housewife who receives Morbid Allowance dies or she dies as a result of a domestic injury, provided death occurs before the age of 55, a Survivors' Pension shall be paid to eligible dependants including her widower until he reaches the age of 55 or dies, and to each child up to the age of 21 or until they are married. If the deceased housewife leaves behind no widower or child, the pension shall be paid to the mother or father until the age of 55 or dies.
Survivors' Pension shall continue to be paid to children who are studying until they complete their first degree or until they are married. This pension shall be paid continuously to mentally or physically disabled children who are unable to support themselves, until the age of 55.
Source: PERKESO Website
Overwhelming response to Housewives' Social Security Scheme
PUTRAJAYA: The Human Resources Ministry aims to provide social security protection for 500,000 housewives under the Housewives' Social Security Scheme (SKSSR) by next year.
Newly appointed Human Resources Minister V. Sivakumar said the SKSSR that was implemented on Dec 1 had so far received overwhelming response with more than 1,092 registrations in its first week.
Speaking at his first press conference at the ministry today, Sivakumar said the SKSSR scheme, a brainchild of former deputy prime minister Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, is a scheme implemented to protect and safeguard the welfare of homemakers and housewives that could not afford private insurance.
The programme, which comes under the Housewives' Social Security Act 2022 (Act 838), makes Malaysia one of four countries in the world to provide social security protection specifically for women.
"The SKSSR aims to provide protection coverage to housewives, homemakers and women in the household management role.
"The domestic injury benefit includes medical and permanent disability benefits, facilities for physical or vocational rehabilitation and dialysis, funeral benefits and survivors pension.
"The protection against invalidity also provides benefits like constant-attendance allowance, facilities for physical or vocational rehabilitation, dialysis, follow-up treatment, funeral benefits and survivors' pension until the patient is 55 years old," he said.
The newly introduced social protection scheme under the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) provides protection for housewives against domestic accidents and invalidity while managing the household, in addition to recognising their involvement in the "care economy" and managing family institutions.
Also present at the press conference was Perkeso chief executive Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohamed.
"The ministry through Perkeso, will continue to proactively implement various engagement programs to promote SKSSR through awareness campaigns, roadshows, Perkeso's Prihatin Squad and Social Synergy Programme as well as through all media platforms.
"We hope this SKSSR programme will benefit the 2.9 million women nationwide, especially housewives, widows, divorcees and any woman whose role is to manage the household," he said.
Sivakumar hoped that husbands would also take this opportunity to contribute to this social protection scheme on behalf of their wives.
"Corporate companies and non-governmental organisations should also jump on the bandwagon to sponsor poor and vulnerable homemakers who may not afford the social protection scheme, to cover them in case of a domestic disaster, accident, disabilities and death," Sivakumar said.
He noted that the SKSSR was similar to the I-Suri coverage scheme under EPF, but provided protection for everyone, including those who do not earn a monthly income.
"This coverage is also extended to women staying at home and taking care of the family, including single career women.
"However, the coverage is not limited to injuries and accidents within the household, but also when they are out carrying out their daily chores, like sending a child to school, buying groceries and so on. For RM120 yearly, the women will get RM30,000 to RM 50,000 worth of coverage.
"This also includes treatment at clinics and admission in second class wards at government hospitals and rehabilitation facilities," he added.
More information on the scheme is available on Perkeso's official website at www.perkeso.gov.my or their hotline at 1-300-22-8000. - NST, 12/12/2022
The Care Income Now Campaign
The Global Women’s Strike and Women of Colour GWS, which have campaigned for financial recognition for unwaged caring work for decades, have joined with the Green New Deal for Europe to urge governments everywhere to provide a Care Income, starting now. This would prioritize and support the work of all those, of every gender, who care for people, for the urban and rural environment, and for the natural world.
Open Letter to Goverments: A Care Income Now!
Every day and in every emergency, unwaged or low waged caregivers, urban and rural, mostly women, often immigrant women, struggle to protect and care for people of every age and condition. But this work is kept invisible and therefore there is never a relief package from governments for caregivers, only more work, especially with the advent of Covid-19.
In 1980, the ILO estimated that women did 2/3 of the world’s work for 5% of its income. Today women and girls do more than three-quarters of all unpaid care work – a total of 12.5 billion hours a day.
The coronavirus pandemic came on top of the climate pandemic, the poverty pandemic, the war pandemic and the rape and domestic violence pandemics which have hit single mother families, ill, disabled and older people hardest. It is exposing weaknesses in our ability to resist and survive physically and financially – from immune systems already compromised by poverty, discrimination, pollution, war, occupation, displacement and other violence to inadequate healthcare and inadequate incomes, especially in the Global South, in communities of colour in the North, and among refugees everywhere.
In response to the virus, country after country has been shut down – from workplaces to schools and transport – and proposals to replace lost wages are being debated. These drastic measures show that governments can take swift action and find money to deal with “emergencies” – if they want to. At this critical moment, we must insist collectively on what we need. We fear that governments may use increased emergency powers to transfer wealth from taxpayers to corporations, and even impose further controls, surveillance and restrictions on our movements and our lives well after this pandemic is over.
The market values unwaged work at $10.8 trillion but never suggests that women should get any of it. Instead we are advised to get an education and a better paid job. We of course have a right to that. But it does not deal with the indispensable work of life and survival – from breastfeeding to elder care. Only increasing the status, power and income of caregivers can do that.
In the 80s, the Women Count – Count Women’s Work petition issued by the International Wages for Housework Campaign gave voice of a hidden mass movement for recognition of this work. It was signed by 1,200 organizations representing millions of women worldwide, resulting in the 1995 UN decision that governments measure and value unwaged work in national accounts.
The Green New Deal for Europe takes this forward. It looks at what work is needed for social and environmental wellbeing, and what work is not, and proposes a Care Income as a key part of its programme for climate justice. At last protecting people and protecting the Earth can be equated and prioritized over the uncaring market – a major step in transforming the world and saving it. We need this everywhere.
We demand a CARE INCOME across the planet for all those, of every gender, who care for people, the urban and rural environment, and the natural world.
Signed and created by:
Global Women’s Strike (GWS) and,
Women of Colour GWS.
Source: Global Women Strike
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