KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 10 — Gig, e-hailing and p-hailing workers will soon receive higher government support under the i-Saraan Plus scheme, with matching contribution incentives of up to RM600 a year, or RM6,000 for life.
The initiative, part of Budget 2026’s focus on expanding social protection, aims to encourage more self-employed Malaysians — including informal workers — to contribute to the Employees Provident Fund (EPF). Informal workers and other self-employed individuals will also enjoy matching contributions of up to RM500 annually or RM5,000 for life.
“Under the recently passed Gig Workers Act 2025, Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) contributions are now mandatory for gig workers. To ease the transition, the government will subsidise 70 per cent of the Self-Employment Social Security Scheme contribution for first-time registrants in non-mandatory sectors, and 50 per cent for their second year,” Anwar announced during the announcement of Budget 2026 today.
“Perkeso will also offer relocation incentives worth up to RM1,000 for job seekers and new graduates who move for work and increase haemodialysis treatment coverage from RM150 to RM170 per session — an additional RM52 million yearly commitments,” he said.
Meanwhile, mothers under the i-Suri programme will see the eligibility age raised to 60, aligning it with the national retirement age.
To support Malaysia’s ageing population, the government will launch the National Ageing Framework 2025–2045 this November. Welfare allocation for senior citizens will rise to RM1.26 billion, benefitting 180,000 elderly Malaysians through cash aid and activity centres.
Additionally, KWAP will invest RM300 million to develop “independent golden age” community homes starting in Kepala Batas, Penang, while the Women, Family and Community Development Ministry (KPWKM) will introduce RM5 million in TVET courses to train professional care workers.
Companies sponsoring such care training or programmes for persons with disabilities will also receive double tax deductions.