COVID-19 recognised as an occupational disease under Malaysian law

Malaysia’s Social Security Organization (SOCSO) has clarified that COVID-19 is considered an occupational disease under Malaysian law.

Posting a statement on Facebook in response to articles by Malay Mail and Malaysiakini, SOCSO said that COVID-19 is a new disease that affects the population including workers of the country.

“These workers may be affected due to their nature of work which increased their risk of infection, such as frontline healthcare workers, or it may affect workers in relation to their employment such as from exposure to infected persons while doing their work.”

SOCSO clarifies that it has already addressed infections such as SARS or Coronavirus in the fifth Schedule of the Employment Social Security Act 1969 as an occupational disease.

Hence, employees who are infected with COVID-19 due to their direct exposure to the disease from their nature of work can claim for compensation.

Employees who are infected due to their exposure arising out of and in the course of their employment will also be covered under the Employment Injury Scheme. This applies for both the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969 and the Self Employment Social Security Ace 2017 (Act 789).

Additionally, those who are infected from any other source and sustain permanent disablement, causing invalidity or death may also be compensated through the Invalidity Pension Scheme of the Employees’ Social Security Act 1969.

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