SINGAPORE (Bernama): Malaysia-Singapore cross-border workers have welcomed the government’s initiative to amend the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017 to extend protection under Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) to those working abroad.
A logistics assistant at a service company in Singapore, Muhammad Amyrul Syahwan Abdullah, 23, described the move as timely, particularly amid current labour market uncertainties.
Amyrul, who commutes 49 kilometres daily by public transport to his workplace in Singapore, said Perkeso protection would help secure workers’ futures.
“There have been many accident cases involving cross-border workers, and some of them do not have insurance coverage, either personally or through their employers,” he told Bernama.
For Luqman Khafa, 27, the government initiative would help ease workers’ burden in the event of any misfortune.
“For someone who commutes by motorcycle, protection initiatives like this are a necessity… In addition, the welfare and fatigue of commuting workers should be given due attention,” he said, adding that he travels 35 kilometres daily by motorcycle from his home in Larkin, Johor, to his workplace in Singapore.
Meanwhile, Muhd Syafiq, 38, a Malaysian working in the pharmaceutical sector in Singapore, expressed hope that awareness among cross-border workers regarding risks and available protection would be improved.
