Meet to discuss EPF for housewives
KUANTAN: A conference is expected to be conducted on Aug 8 over the implementation of the Employees’ Provident Fund scheme for housewives, says the Deputy Prime Minister.
Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail said there were still technicalities that had to be sorted out before the Government could launch the scheme, thus a meeting would be held between EPF and other agencies to discuss and formulate a plan.
“We are targetting that date and will then try to work backwards so at least there is a milestone,” she said after visiting the Sultanah Hajjah Kalsom Children’s Home here yesterday.
Dr Wan Azizah added that while husbands were welcome to voluntar- ily contribute to their wives’ savings under the existing 1Malaysia Retirement Savings Scheme, the Pakatan Harapan Government would like to increase the amount to at least RM600 a year.
“This is something we have to talk about as it incurs cost. When it incurs cost, the Finance Ministry must ... see whether it can be achieved,” she said.
The EPF for housewives, to come from 2% from their husband’s 11% contribution, was among the promises in the Pakatan Harapan GE14 manifesto. This promise hit a legal snag as existing laws prevented the transfer of the husbands’ EPF contributions to their wives.
On another matter, Dr Wan Azizah expressed concern over the lack of awareness on mental health issues.
Commenting on the case of a mother who allegedly killed her two-year- old son in Maran, Pahang, recently, Dr Wan Azizah, who is also Women, Family and Community Development Minister, said such issues had to be taken seriously.
“The problem is we are not tackling the issue at the source. We have to face it in a holistic manner.
“Such cases are not isolated and may be related to other background factors,” she said.
In her speech, Dr Wan Azizah said the number of reported child abuse cases increased every year.
The total number of cases rose from 4,453 in 2015 to 4,982 the following year.
“In 2017, there were 5,422 cases. In this matter, child abuse has to be seen as a violation of a child’s rights,” Dr Wan Azizah said. “It is the responsibility of all to curb this for the sake of children.”