Nearly 600 high-profile individuals, including members of Parliament and state assemblymen, have been identified among employers who failed to fulfil mandatory Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) requirements for their domestic workers.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri R. Ramanan said preliminary checks found that 10,033 employers had failed to meet their registration or contribution obligations as of November 1.

Another 26,669 employers had outstanding contribution records requiring further checks and follow-up action.

Ramanan has given employers until December 7 to fulfil their obligations, warning that enforcement action would be taken against those who continue to disregard the requirements.

PERKESO will begin enforcement by issuing compounds, while employers who remain non-compliant could face a fine of up to RM10,000, imprisonment for up to two years, or both upon conviction.

The minister stressed that an employer's position, rank, influence or status would not exempt them from their legal responsibilities.

He said the high-profile individuals identified included VVIPs, MPs, state assemblymen and people holding senior positions in both the public and private sectors.

Domestic workers entitled to social protection

Domestic workers have been covered under the Employees' Social Security Act 1969 (Act 4) and the Employment Insurance System Act 2017 (Act 800) since June 1, 2021.

Under PERKESO's requirements, employers must register their domestic workers and make the required contributions to ensure they receive social security protection.

The definition of domestic workers extends beyond housekeepers and domestic helpers. It also includes personal drivers, gardeners, bodyguards, private security guards, cooks, caregivers for elderly people and childcare workers.

The coverage is intended to provide protection against unforeseen circumstances, including accidents arising from work-related duties.

Ramanan said the ministry viewed failures to register domestic workers and pay the required contributions seriously, adding that he had instructed PERKESO to strengthen its monitoring and enforcement efforts.

He also clarified that the objective was not primarily to impose compounds or fines, but to ensure domestic workers received the social security protection to which they were entitled.

Enforcement must translate into protection

The scale of the findings raises questions about how compliance has been monitored since mandatory coverage for domestic workers took effect more than five years ago.

While the December 7 deadline gives employers an opportunity to settle their obligations, the number of employers identified suggests that awareness alone may not be enough to ensure compliance.

There is also a distinction between collecting outstanding contributions and ensuring workers are actually protected. Registration and contribution records must translate into meaningful coverage, particularly for workers who may have limited bargaining power to demand that their employers fulfil these responsibilities.

Domestic workers perform essential tasks within private households, yet their employment arrangements can make their rights and welfare less visible than those of workers in formal workplaces.

The involvement of high-profile individuals also puts the government's commitment to equal enforcement under scrutiny. If the law applies to every employer regardless of status, enforcement must be consistent and transparent.

Ultimately, the December deadline should not be measured solely by the number of compounds issued or contributions collected, but by whether domestic workers are properly registered and receive the protection required by law.