KUALA LUMPUR: Employers who have yet to register with the Social Security Organisation (Socso) will be exempted from paying interest on Late Payment of Contributions (Faedah Caruman Lewat Bayar) if they register from today until June 30 this year.
Socso chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said the exemption is applicable to registrations under Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4) and Employees Insurance System Act 2017 (Act 800).
Discounts will also be given for compounds served against employers who had passed the deadline, he added.
"These two incentives are a gesture of appreciation from Socso to mark our Golden Jubilee celebrations for the cooperation and support from employers throughout the country.
"It is also aimed at easing employers' financial burden as Socso is aware of the challenges they have in facing the Covid-19 pandemic.
"I would like to urge employers who are qualified but yet to register under the Acts to do so," he said today, adding that the employers registration can be done online via Assist Portal on www.perkeso.gov.my
Mohammed Azman was speaking at the pre-launching of Socso's Golden Jubli 50th celebrations themed 'Prihatin Lima Dekad dan Selamanya" which was held virtually.
Socso's 50th year logo, designed by its employees, was also launched during the session.
Mohammed Azman said Socso now has 8.57 million workers under its protection with the registration of close to 490,000 active employers of which 23 per cent are from Selangor.
Socso, he added, had widened the scope of coverage of Act 4 to legal foreign workers in the country where 1.6 million of them have been registered from Jan 1, 2019 onwards.
"The failure of an employer to register their company and workers within a stipulated period is a compoundable and chargeable offence. If one is charged in court and found guilty, an employer can be fined up to RM10,000 or jailed up to two years or both.
"Apart from that, the employer will also be charged 6 per cent interest annually on the late contribution if they do not meet the set registration period.
"From 2010 up to Dec 31 last year, a total of 17,471 cases has been accepted to be charged under Act 4 for various offences," he said.
To mark the celebration, Socso has lined up several activities including a photography competition called 'Perkeso Graph', jingle writing competition, debates and poetry recital.
There are also corporate social responsibility events such as Clean The Planet, programme with single mothers, Anak Angkat Perkeso, Jelajah Prihatin and Karnival PenjanaKerjaya 50 Tahun Perkeso.
Socso will also conduct a study on awareness and service quality and the celebrations will culminate with a Gala Dinner.