Neither are housewives compelled to take part in the Housewifes’ Social Security Scheme (SKSSR), Bernama reported.

Socso said the Housewives’ Social Security Bill 2022, tabled for first reading by human resources minister M Saravanan in the Dewan Rakyat on Tuesday, stipulated that husbands were only obliged to make such contributions “if they choose to do so”.

The husband needs to inform Socso if he wished to contribute for his wife.

“In this situation, it can be an offence by the husband if he fails to pay the contribution. The husband can be fined not more than RM10,000 or imprisoned not more than two years or both, if convicted.

“However, if the couple is divorced or the husband is unable to pay his wife’s contribution due to loss of income or the like, then his commitment to pay the contribution is void,” Socso said.

Socso was responding to news reports that husbands who failed to make Socso contributions for their wives could be fined or imprisoned, which it said was inaccurate.

It also said that the wife, or housewife, could make SKSSR contributions voluntarily.

Contributions, it said, could be made by a third party.

Under the scheme, insured housewives, or her dependents, will also be entitled to disability benefits, including sickness allowances and funeral benefits.

The scheme would protect some three million housewives.