ILO Conducts Study to Design Unemployment Insurance Scheme in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR, June 9 (Bernama) -- A study to design a suitable unemployment insurance scheme for the unemployed workers is being undertaken since January by the International Labour Organisation (ILO). The Social Security Organisation (Socso) Chief Executif K.Selvarajah said the study was scheduled to complete by end of the year, with an interim report expected by end of this month. He said a Tripartite Project Committee had been formed to monitor the study, chaired by himself and comprising Human Resource Ministry Deputy Secretary General Mohd Sahar Darusman, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) vice-president Dr Michael Chiam Tow Hui and Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) secretary-general Abdul Halim Mansor. Selvarajah said the first phase of the study involved a fact finding mission by the ILO as well as engagement sessions with the tripartite dialogue partners. "Towards this end, both the MEF and MTUC have organised workshops respectively in April and May 2012 to obtain views of their members. A National Tripartite Workshop was held on May 24 to discuss the employers and workers view on the matter," he said in a statement here on Friday. The second phase would look at alternative models, administrative mechanisms and funding issues for the proposed scheme. Selvarajah added that a final blueprint of the scheme was expected to be prepared by December for onward consideration by the government. -- BERNAMA