KUALA LUMPUR – The National Film Development Corporation (Finas) and the government are sponsoring the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS) contributions for some 4,500 local screen artists as part of efforts to improve the welfare and social safety net of creative industry practitioners.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the SKSPS scheme through the Social Security Organisation (Socso) will see a sponsorship totalling RM104,850 for a year.
He said the one-year sponsorship makes up 10% of their total RM232.80 annual contribution that each individual must pay for the protection scheme.
He added that 90% of the RM232.80 annual contribution is paid by the government, while Finas will be paying the remaining 10%.
“(This means that) recipients (artists) don’t have to pay anything for one year,” he said at a press conference after the signing of the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between Finas and Socso today.
The MoU was signed by Finas chief executive officer Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib and Socso group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed.
The deal was inked in the presence of Fahmi and Human Resources Minister Steven Sim Chee Keong.
This MoU on the scheme covers medical benefits, temporary disability, permanent disability, permanent service allowance, funeral management, rehabilitation, and education loans for creative arts employees, among others, he added.
Fahmi said that he believes this MoU will have a positive impact and improve the standard of living and well-being of the recipients.
Meanwhile, Sim claimed this MoU was a “historical moment” for Finas and Socso, with the support of the Communication Ministry and Human Resources Ministry (Kesuma).
In his speech, Sim affirmed that the welfare of the artists and crew members will be protected by Socso through this MoU.
He highlighted that the contribution and registration of the SKSPS are able to solve the issues that hinder the local film industry, with a contribution of approximately 1.9%, or RM28.7 billion, to the gross domestic product.
“Finas has agreed to outline the prerequisites for registering and contributing to Socso for all artists in this industry, following the fact that most artists work on a project basis, regardless of their working hours, and the increasing risk of accidents at work.
“Through Socso, Kesuma also hopes that other workers in the creative art industry, such as piecemeal, stringers, show producers, singers, and influencers, as well as creative arts industry associations involved in the arts sector, will also contribute to Socso, thus guaranteeing the social security of their jobs,” he said.
As of April 12, around 3,120 individuals from the creative arts industry have been recorded as active contributors to the SKSPS, he noted. – April 23, 2024