Kuala lumpur: More than 112,000 FELDA settlers stand to gain social protection under a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed today between the Federal Land Development Authority (FELDA) and the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso).

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Perkeso group chief executive officer Datuk Seri Dr Mohammed Azman Aziz Mohammed stated that the collaboration would extend protection to settlers classified as self-employed. He emphasized that the government provides a 70 percent grant to self-employed individuals, which could enable the extension of protection to all settlers. This protection ensures income replacement for settlers and their families in the event of an accident, injury, or death.

The MoU not only ensures protection for settlers but also includes Perkeso registration and contributions for all FELDA staff and those of its subsidiaries. The agreement aims to raise awareness of the Lindung 24 Jam scheme. Furthermore, Mohammed Azman highlighted that the collaboration would also focus on providing job opportunities for settlers' children through the MYFutureJobs portal, which will be set up in FELDA's 317 land schemes and scheme offices.

The collaboration also addresses social synergy aspects, assisting FELDA communities in obtaining Perkeso claims and services from the agency's strategic partners. FELDA director-general Datuk Dr Suzana Idayu Wati Osman noted that while there are only 112,638 settlers, the wider community now numbers more than three million people, with a workforce of nearly 70,000, half of whom are foreign workers. She mentioned that in conjunction with FELDA's 70th anniversary, Perkeso has agreed to explore opportunities for seven major initiatives for the FELDA community.