Bernama, Socso Ink MoU To Extend Protection, Benefits To 493 Part-time Media Practitioners

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) and the Social Security Organisation (Socso) today inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to extend social security protection to part-time media practitioners or stringers under the Self-Employed Social Security Scheme (SKSPS).

The MoU was signed by Bernama chief executive officer Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin and Socso deputy chief executive (Operations) John Riba Marin at Wisma Bernama here.

Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil witnessed the signing ceremony.

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Also present were Deputy Minister of Communications Teo Nie Ching and Communications Ministry deputy secretary-general (Strategic Communications and Creative Industries) Nik Kamaruzzaman Nik Husin, as well as Bernama chairman Datuk Seri Wong Chun Wai and editor-in-chief Arul Rajoo Durar Raj.

The MoU is a government initiative to improve social security protection, especially for media practitioners who face various challenges while carrying out their duties.

The SKSPS will benefit a total of 493 registered part-time media practitioners or stringers from 45 media organisations nationwide as each of them will receive Socso contribution for one year totalling RM232.80 per person starting July 1, 2024.

Meanwhile, Nur-ul Afida in her speech said the initiative to register part-time journalists and stringers as Socso contributors was actually undertaken by Fahmi himself with the aim of helping those who had never been protected by Socso before.

“He (Fahmi) then asked Bernama for help and we contacted Socso to find solutions to the issues of social protection that have been plaguing these part-timers.

“After a series of discussions, Bernama and Socso finally reached an agreement to enable stringers to have social protection contribution accounts through the SKSPS.

“And on July 1 this year, all 493 stringers who work as reporters, cameramen and photographers in various local media agencies and companies and are registered with the Information Department, have already become Socso contributors,” she said.

Nur-ul Afida said the signing of the MoU also aimed at enabling Socso and Bernama to cooperate in promotional and data-sharing programmes involving people or associations involved in news activities but defined as self-employed according to the First Schedule of the SKSPS Act (Act 789).

She also said the MoU was proof of the Unity Government’s continuous effort to address the plight and ensure the wellbeing of the people, including media practitioners.

“In a bid to extend the benefits of SKSPS, Bernama and Socso are also discussing other protection methods that can help media practitioners,” she added.

Also presented at the event was the Social Security Protection Note to 10 stringers from the Malaysian Broadcasting Department (RTM), Astro AWANI, Media Prima Berhad, Utusan Malaysia, Makkal Osai and Bernama.

The SKSPS was created to provide protection for self-employed insured persons under the provisions of the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 against employment injuries including occupational diseases and accidents during work-related activities and while travelling for the purpose of his or her self-employment activity.

-- BERNAMA