The government has made an allocation of RM20 million for 359,065 registered e-Kasih members for phase one of the Suri Incentive programme (i-Suri) to be launched in a couple of days; on 15 August 2018.
E-Kasih is a database system established at the national level to support planning, implementation and monitoring of the poverty program for those in bottom 40 (B40) category
Unfortunately, house husbands are not included in the scheme.
The i-Suri incentive programme will be implemented in three phases, with the second phase targeted to begin early next year and the third in early 2020.
For PHASE ONE, Suri members will save a minimum of RM5 monthly into their EPF account, upon which the government will contribute RM40 monthly.
The government’s contribution will be raised up to RM50 in PHASE TWO. Which means, in addition to the RM40 contribution to EPF, a sum of RM10 will be disbursed for protection under the SOCSO.
However, legislation changes are necessary to make phase two possible because protection under SOCSO is currently not extended to housewives. The changes are targeted to start early next year (in 2019).
In PHASE THREE, 2% of the husband’s EPF of 11% contribution will go to their wife’s account.
To arrive to this final phase, amendments need to be made to the EPF Act 1991, targeted to be implemented by early 2020.
