KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 — Bernama and the Social Security Organisation (Socso) today inked a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to extend protection to part-time media practitioners under the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SESSS).
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.
Also present were Deputy Communications Minister 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 in their line of work.
The SESSS will benefit 493 registered part-time media practitioners or stringers from 45 media organisations nationwide, with each receiving Socso contributions for one year, totalling RM232.80 per person, from July 1.
Nur-ul Afida in her speech said the initiative to register part-time journalists and stringers as Socso contributors was undertaken by Fahmi, with the aim of helping those who did not previously have Socso protection.
“He (Fahmi) then asked Bernama for help and we contacted Socso to find solutions to the social protection issues that have been plaguing these part-timers.
“After a series of discussions, Bernama and Socso reached an agreement to enable stringers to have social protection contribution accounts through the SESSS.
“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 become Socso contributors,” she said.
Nur-ul Afida said the signing of the MOU also aimed to allow 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 Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017.
She said the MOU was proof of the Unity Government’s efforts to address the plight and ensure the well-being of the people, including media practitioners.
“In a bid to extend the benefits of SESSS, Bernama and Socso are discussing other protection methods to help media practitioners,” she added.
Also present at the event was Social Security Protection Note to 10 stringers from RTM, Astro Awani, Media Prima Bhd, Utusan Malaysia, Makkal Osai and Bernama.
The SESSS was introduced to protect self-employed insured persons, under the provisions of the Self-Employment Social Security Act 2017, against occupational injuries including occupational diseases and accidents during work-related activities and while travelling for the purpose of self-employment activities.
— Bernama
