FINAS, EPF, PERKESO Strengthen Social Protections For Local Artistes

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 15 (Bernama) -- The National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia (FINAS) is strengthening social protection for Malaysian artistes through a collaboration with the Employees’ Provident Fund (EPF) and the Social Security Organisation (PERKESO) with support from the Federation of Malaysian Film Associations (GAFEMA).

Its chief executive officer, Datuk Azmir Saifuddin Mutalib said the collaboration would allow artistes to sign up for PERKESO’s Self-Employment Social Security Scheme (SKSPS) and EPF’s voluntary i-Saraan scheme as their long-term investment and their welfare, adding that 200 veteran artistes have been approved to receive benefits under the PERKESO SKSPS scheme.

“FINAS has also sponsored the opening of 1,000 i-Saraan accounts. This quota is open till September 2025 with priority for artistes who have never registered,” he said when met after presenting PERKESO contributor certificates and EPF member certificates to local artistes here today.

He also said that FINAS was studying suggestions of providing special incentives or specific funds to veteran artistes to ensure they continue contributing to the industry.

“Amendments to the FINAS Act will be tabled in Parliament in the future with an emphasis on production workers’ welfare, including insurance coverage and mandatory contributions through filming licenses and cerificates,” he said.

Based on PERKESO data, the number of registered artistes increased drastically from 690 people in 2020 to 9,000 in 2024 and the arts industry’s i-Saraan contributions exceeded RM23 million involving 3,900 workers, with a collected savings of RM231 million.

-- BERNAMA