Lindung Pekerja PERKESO: Benefits, Coverage, Eligibility & Everything You Need to Know

Protecting employees goes beyond providing a safe workplace. Employers in Malaysia are also responsible for ensuring eligible employees are covered under the country's statutory social security system.

One of the key initiatives supporting this protection is LINDUNG PEKERJA, administered by Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO).

LINDUNG PEKERJA provides statutory social security protection under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Akta 4). Through this protection, eligible employees and their dependants may receive financial assistance, medical treatment, rehabilitation services, and other benefits if they experience workplace accidents, occupational diseases, invalidity, or death.

In 2026, PERKESO also introduced LINDUNG 24 JAM (Skim Kemalangan Bukan Bencana Kerja) to provide additional protection for eligible non-work-related accidents. Since both programmes are administered by PERKESO, many employers are unsure about how they differ and which protection applies to their employees.

This guide explains everything employers need to know about LINDUNG PEKERJA.

Whether you are hiring your first employee or managing a growing workforce, understanding PERKESO protection is an important part of HR compliance in Malaysia.

What Is LINDUNG PEKERJA?

LINDUNG PEKERJA is PERKESO's statutory employee protection provided under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Akta 4).

Its purpose is to provide social security protection for employees and financial support for their dependants when unexpected events affect an employee's ability to work or earn an income.

Depending on the employee's eligibility, LINDUNG PEKERJA may provide protection for:

Kemalangan pekerjaan
Penyakit pekerjaan
Keilatan
Death
Medical treatment
Physical rehabilitation
Vocational rehabilitation
Financial benefits for eligible dependants

Unlike private insurance, LINDUNG PEKERJA forms part of Malaysia's statutory social security system and is administered by PERKESO.

Source: perkeso.official

Legal Framework

LINDUNG PEKERJA is administered by Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial (PERKESO) under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Akta 4).

The Act establishes PERKESO's responsibility to provide social security protection for eligible employees through statutory protection schemes, contribution collection, claims management, rehabilitation programmes, and other related services.

Employers who fall within the scope of the Act are responsible for registering eligible employees and submitting contributions according to PERKESO's requirements.

Objectives of LINDUNG PEKERJA

According to PERKESO, LINDUNG PEKERJA aims to protect employees while supporting their wellbeing before, during, and after unexpected incidents.

Its objectives include:

Protect employees who experience kemalangan pekerjaan.
Provide protection for employees affected by penyakit pekerjaan.
Support contributors who suffer keilatan.
Provide financial support for eligible dependants after the death of an insured employee.
Ensure employees receive appropriate medical treatment.
Support physical and vocational rehabilitation.
Help injured employees return to employment through the Return To Work (RTW) programme.
Strengthen Malaysia's social security protection for employees.

Beyond providing financial assistance, the scheme also focuses on helping employees recover and return to productive employment whenever possible.

Who Is Covered Under LINDUNG PEKERJA?

Generally, LINDUNG PEKERJA applies to employees covered under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Akta 4).

The following table provides a general overview.

Worker Category	Covered
Malaysian employees	Yes
Foreign employees	Yes
Eligible domestic workers	Yes
Employees covered under Akta 4	Yes

Coverage depends on the applicable legislation and eligibility requirements determined by PERKESO.

Some individuals are protected under different PERKESO legislation instead.

Worker Category	Relevant Protection
Self-employed individuals	Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (Akta 789)
Housewives	Housewives' Social Security Scheme (Akta 838)

If you are unsure whether your employees should be registered under Akta 4, refer to PERKESO's official guidance or contact the nearest PERKESO office.

What Protection Does LINDUNG PEKERJA Provide?

LINDUNG PEKERJA consists of two statutory protection schemes administered by PERKESO.

1. Skim Bencana Pekerjaan

Skim Bencana Pekerjaan provides protection for employees who experience accidents or occupational diseases arising out of and in the course of their employment.

Examples include:

Workplace accidents
Industrial accidents
Occupational diseases
Eligible commuting accidents
Accidents while carrying out work duties

When an eligible employee suffers a work-related injury or occupational disease, PERKESO may provide financial assistance, medical treatment, rehabilitation services, and other benefits according to the applicable legislation.

The objective is to reduce the financial burden on employees while supporting their recovery and return to work.

2. Skim Keilatan

Skim Keilatan provides protection if an insured employee becomes permanently invalid or dies due to causes not related to employment, subject to PERKESO's qualifying conditions.

Unlike Skim Bencana Pekerjaan, this scheme is not limited to workplace accidents.

Eligible contributors who satisfy PERKESO's contribution conditions may receive financial assistance when permanent invalidity significantly affects their ability to earn an income.

Eligible dependants may also receive benefits if the insured contributor passes away.

Benefits (Faedah) Under LINDUNG PEKERJA

Eligible employees may receive one or more benefits depending on their eligibility and PERKESO's assessment.

Faedah	Purpose
Faedah Perubatan	Covers approved medical treatment for eligible cases.
Faedah Hilang Upaya Sementara	Provides temporary income replacement while an employee is unable to work.
Faedah Hilang Upaya Kekal	Provides financial compensation for permanent disability.
Pencen Orang Tanggungan	Provides financial support for eligible dependants after the death of an insured employee.
Bantuan Ilat	Financial assistance for eligible contributors under Skim Keilatan.
Faedah Pengurusan Mayat (Bayaran Khairat Kematian)	Helps cover funeral expenses for eligible cases.
Pencen Penakat	Monthly financial assistance for eligible surviving family members.
Elaun Layanan Sentiasa (Elaun Penjaga)	Additional allowance for contributors who require continuous personal care.
Kemudahan Pemulihan Jasmani	Supports physical rehabilitation after injury or illness.
Kemudahan Pemulihan Vokasional	Provides vocational rehabilitation and skills training.
Return To Work (RTW)	Helps injured employees recover and return to suitable employment.

The benefits received depend on the employee's eligibility, contribution history, and PERKESO's assessment.

Why Lindung Pekerja PERKESO Is Important

LINDUNG PEKERJA benefits employees, employers, and society.

For Employees

Employees receive financial protection and access to medical treatment and rehabilitation when unexpected events affect their ability to work.

For Employers

Employers fulfil their statutory responsibilities while ensuring employees receive the protection they are entitled to under Malaysian law.

Having employees covered under PERKESO also demonstrates a commitment to employee welfare and responsible employment practices.

For Malaysia

LINDUNG PEKERJA strengthens Malaysia's social security system by helping reduce the financial burden on workers and their families while supporting rehabilitation and successful return to employment.

LINDUNG PEKERJA vs LINDUNG 24 JAM

Many employers assume these terms refer to the same scheme.

However, they serve different purposes.

LINDUNG PEKERJA	LINDUNG 24 JAM
Statutory employee protection under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Akta 4).	Skim Kemalangan Bukan Bencana Kerja (SKBBK).
Includes Skim Bencana Pekerjaan and Skim Keilatan.	Provides additional protection for eligible non-work-related accidents outside working hours.
Covers workplace accidents, occupational diseases, invalidity, and death.	Complements existing PERKESO protection by extending coverage beyond the workplace for eligible accidents.
Applies to employees covered under Akta 4.	Subject to PERKESO's participation rules and eligibility requirements.

Understanding the difference helps employers comply with the correct statutory requirements while ensuring employees receive the appropriate protection.

What Is LINDUNG 24 JAM (SKBBK)?

LINDUNG 24 JAM, officially known as Skim Kemalangan Bukan Bencana Kerja (SKBBK), is a PERKESO scheme introduced to complement the protection available under LINDUNG PEKERJA.

While Skim Bencana Pekerjaan protects employees against accidents arising out of and in the course of employment, LINDUNG 24 JAM extends protection to eligible employees who experience accidents outside working hours that are not related to their employment, subject to PERKESO's terms and eligibility requirements.

The objective is to provide broader social security protection by helping employees and their families cope with the financial impact of unexpected accidents that occur during their personal time.

Examples of accidents that may be covered include:

Accidents at home
Road accidents during personal travel
Sports or recreational accidents
Other accidental injuries outside working hours

Coverage is subject to PERKESO's assessment and the applicable terms of the scheme.

Source: perkeso.official

Who Can Participate in LINDUNG 24 JAM?

Participation requirements depend on the employee category and PERKESO's current policy.

Local Employees

Participation for eligible Malaysian employees is currently voluntary.

Employees who wish to remain covered can continue participating in the scheme. Those who do not wish to participate may submit an opt-out declaration according to PERKESO's latest guidelines.

Foreign Employees

Participation remains mandatory for foreign employees covered under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Akta 4).

Employers should always refer to the latest PERKESO announcements because participation requirements may change over time.

Benefits Available Under LINDUNG 24 JAM

Eligible employees may receive benefits similar to those available under PERKESO's existing protection schemes.

These may include:

Benefit	Purpose
Faedah Perubatan	Covers approved medical treatment for eligible injuries.
Faedah Hilang Upaya Sementara	Provides temporary income replacement during recovery.
Faedah Hilang Upaya Kekal	Financial compensation for permanent disability.
Pencen Orang Tanggungan	Financial support for eligible dependants.
Faedah Pengurusan Mayat (Bayaran Khairat Kematian)	Assistance for funeral expenses where applicable.
Elaun Layanan Sentiasa	Additional allowance for contributors requiring continuous personal care.
Kemudahan Pemulihan Jasmani	Physical rehabilitation programmes.
Kemudahan Pemulihan Vokasional	Vocational rehabilitation and skills development.
Return To Work (RTW)	Supports employees in returning to suitable employment after recovery.

Benefits are subject to PERKESO's eligibility criteria and assessment.

Source: perkeso.official

Employer Responsibilities

Employers play an important role in ensuring employees receive the statutory protection they are entitled to.

As an employer, you should:

Register your business with PERKESO.
Register eligible employees promptly.
Submit monthly PERKESO contributions on time.
Maintain accurate payroll and contribution records.
Update employee information whenever there are changes.
Report workplace accidents to PERKESO where required.
Cooperate with PERKESO during investigations or claims.
Keep up to date with the latest PERKESO circulars and policy changes.

Meeting these responsibilities helps employers comply with Malaysian employment laws while ensuring employees receive the protection available to them.

FAQs

Is LINDUNG PEKERJA mandatory?

Employers must register eligible employees and submit PERKESO contributions in accordance with the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Akta 4).

Is LINDUNG PEKERJA the same as LINDUNG 24 JAM?

No. LINDUNG PEKERJA refers to PERKESO's statutory protection under Akta 4, while LINDUNG 24 JAM (SKBBK) provides additional protection for eligible non-work-related accidents occurring outside working hours.

Who pays PERKESO contributions?

Contribution responsibilities vary depending on the PERKESO scheme. Some contributions are shared between employers and employees, while others are fully borne by either the employer or employee according to PERKESO's contribution schedule.

Can part-time employees be covered?

Eligibility depends on the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 and PERKESO's requirements. Employers should assess each employee's employment status and refer to PERKESO's guidelines where necessary.

Can foreign employees receive PERKESO protection?

Yes. Eligible foreign employees covered under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 receive PERKESO protection according to the applicable legislation and contribution requirements.

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