WHAT can be more important and meaningful for an employee suffering from employment injury and invalidity than to be treated, rehabilitated, return to work, be economically empowered and re-integrate himself or herself in society?
What better social protection can one have other than access to jobs, decent and sustainable employment, and being able to contribute to the nation’s productivity output?
With accidents occurring every day despite prevention efforts, many workers are lost prematurely at their most productive age.
For those who are severely injured and traumatised because of workplace accidents, it does not mean the end of the world for them. They can return to work and be reintegrated into society.
The Return To Work (RTW) programme provided by the Social Security Organisation is a systematic disability case management programme in processing compensation, medical and vocational rehabilitation for an injured worker.
This is social security at its best. We do not need a social security system that only provides compensation but rather, one that will provide the opportunity for workers to be reintegrated back into the society and which will put back smiles on people’s faces.
At a recent Regional Return To Work Conference organised by Socso, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Richard Riot shared a the story of a RTW participant who was fell unconscious after being struck by a high-voltage cable while working in an oil palm estate.
He was sent to hospital. Both his hands and his left leg were amputated, and he was later referred to Socso’s RTW programme.
After going through rehabilitation and treatment, he was fitted with prosthesis and orthotic devices to enable him to function in his daily activities.
Two years later, with the help of Socso and a caring employer, he was able to work as a customer service officer.
The programme is a good example of what Socso does to provide a better outreach and social protection to all workers as well as put into practise the concept of disability management among employers.
Since its introduction in 2007 and till last month, the programme had so far enabled 8,615 persons with injuries or illnesses to go back to work.
Tan Sri Lee Lam Thye, chairman, National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Bandar Baru Bangi, Selangor