The number of employees who have been involved in accidents while commuting to work has been on the rise since 2011.
Out of the 63,578 cases reported to Social Security Organisation (Socso) last year, more than 45 % or 27, 671 cases were commuting accidents, said Human Resources Minister, Datuk Seri Richard Riot Anak Jaem in his keynote address at the Commuting Accidents Prevention Seminar 2014, in Monash University today.
He said in 2012, about 42% of the cases reported to Socso were commuting accidents while in 2011, out of 59,897 cases reported, about 41 % were commuting accidents.
Richard who described the statistics as worrying said some of the accidents were fatalities while others resulted in the victims becoming disabled.
He added that this year 60% to 65% of the 20,977 cases reported this year until September were fatalities.
"Every layer of society, employers and employees alike, should take this matter seriously," he added.
He added that RM400 million were paid in compensation in 2013 for commuting accidents while in 2012, RM320 million were paid.
Richard said this year, RM6.5 billion was allocated for Worker Safety and Health Programs in 30 institutions including non -governmental organizations.
"In line with this, Socso has worked together with Standards and Industrial Research Institute of Malaysia (Sirim) to come up with a guidelines book, titled 'Good Practices in Implementing Commuting Safety Management' which will be used as a reference for employers to promote employees' safety while on the way to and fro work," he added.
On a separate matter, Richard revealed that the minimum wage implementation has proven to be success.
"We conducted a survey of 986 companies of various sectors across the country and found that 98% implemented the minimum wage. Only 2% did not," he said.
Richard cautioned that those who had yet to comply would be taken to court after being issued a formal warning.
"They will also need to pay their employees what is owed to them. Only maids and apprentices are not subjected to the ruling," he added.
The Minimum Wage Ruling was implemented in January and stated that the minimum wage in the Peninsular is RM900 per month while in Sabah and Sarawak, the minimum salary is RM800.
source:::http://www.thesundaily.my
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