Socso chief executive officer Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed said the financial aid was equivalent to at least 1.5% of the Malaysian gross domestic product (GDP) and was channelled to stabilise the labour market following the economic shocks of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Socso has built a three-pronged strategy, which starts with retention through the wage subsidy programme, relief through enhanced and extended job search allowances and finally recovery through the hiring incentive programme,” he said in his keynote address at Socso’s regional return to work (RTW) symposium 2021, held virtually today.
He said that among the approaches and initiatives taken by Socso to ensure that emotional and psychological support can be delivered amidst the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic include the setting up of its guidance and counselling team known as the psychological support and social well-being unit.
The unit specifically addresses the issues and challenges of mental health that have risen drastically due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
“The pandemic has made more people aware of the need to address psychological, emotional, and mental well-being. This creates more opportunities for the guidance and counselling team to reach out to Socso’s insured persons for counselling and emotional support,” Mohammed Azman said.
He said Socso also implemented a webinar series aimed at creating awareness of emotional and psychological issues and support in the workplace.
“The webinar series was conducted according to geographical zones to ensure that we can spread awareness over all the states in Malaysia.
“Participation from employers and insured persons will bridge the gaps in understanding the importance of mental well-being in the workplace,” he said.
Mohammed Azman said a psychosocial well-being hotline has been created to facilitate smooth delivery of service regardless of time and place, where anyone especially insured persons can unload their emotional burden, share problems in their daily lives, or even query about issues regarding mental health.
The psychosocial well-being team will offer psychological support and assistance via telehealth, he said.
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