SOCSO for Foreign Workers in Malaysia 2026: Registration, Contribution Rates, Benefits, and Employer Obligations

A Bangladeshi worker at a construction site in Cyberjaya sustains a back injury from a fall. He has worked in Malaysia for two years on a valid work permit. When he seeks treatment, the hospital asks for his SOCSO number — and neither he nor his employer can produce one. The employer never registered him, assuming SOCSO did not apply to foreign workers. It does. The employer is now liable for the full medical costs plus penalties for failing to contribute.

SOCSO coverage for foreign workers in Malaysia is not optional, and the coverage is not reduced or different from what Malaysian employees receive. The Employment Injury Scheme and Invalidity Scheme apply in full. The contribution rates are identical. The benefits — medical treatment, disablement pensions, dependants' benefits, and rehabilitation — are the same.

This guide covers everything employers and foreign workers need to know about SOCSO in 2026.

For the full employer perspective on SOCSO obligations, see our employer SOCSO guide .

Part of the SOCSO (PERKESO) Malaysia 2026 Guide — employer & employee contribution rates, benefits, claims, and compliance all in one place.

Are Foreign Workers Covered by SOCSO?

Yes. The Employees' Social Security Act 1969 was amended (via the Employees' Social Security (Amendment) Act 2018) to extend SOCSO coverage to all foreign workers employed in Malaysia under a valid work permit or employment pass, regardless of nationality or job sector, from the first day of employment.

This includes:

• Foreign workers in manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture, and services sectors
• Domestic workers (maids) — though registration is slightly different
• Expatriates on Employment Pass, Residence Pass-Talent, or Professional Visit Pass
• Foreign workers on temporary employment passes

Who is excluded

• Foreign diplomats and consular staff (covered by their home country's arrangements)
• Foreign workers employed for fewer than 30 days on a casual basis (but the employer should verify this with PERKESO)
• Self-employed foreign nationals (who are not employees under the Act)

SOCSO Contribution Rates for Foreign Workers

The contribution rates for foreign workers are identical to those for Malaysian employees. There is no separate rate, no reduced coverage, and no different ceiling.

For a foreign worker under 60 in the First Category:

The wage ceiling is RM5,000, same as for local employees.

EIS (Employment Insurance System) for Foreign Workers

EIS does not apply to foreign workers. Only Malaysian citizens and permanent residents are covered by EIS. On the payslip, foreign workers should see SOCSO but not EIS deductions. Employers should not remit EIS contributions for foreign workers.

SOCSO Benefits Available to Foreign Workers

Employment Injury Scheme — Full Coverage

Foreign workers receive the full range of Employment Injury Scheme benefits for workplace accidents, commuting accidents, and occupational diseases:

• Medical treatment: Unlimited, at SOCSO-registered providers, for as long as treatment is needed.
• Temporary disablement benefit: 80% of daily wage, paid while unable to work.
• Permanent disablement benefit: Monthly pension or lump sum depending on disability percentage.
• Dependants' benefit: Monthly pension to surviving spouse and children if the worker dies from a work injury.
• Funeral benefit: RM2,000 one-time payment.
• Rehabilitation: Physical and vocational rehabilitation services.

Invalidity Scheme — Full Coverage

Foreign workers under 60 also receive full Invalidity Scheme coverage:

• Invalidity pension: Monthly pension if permanently unable to work due to any cause (illness or non-work injury), provided the contribution condition is met.
• Survivors' pension: Monthly pension to dependants if the worker dies from any cause.
• Invalidity grant: Lump sum if the contribution condition for the full pension is not met but at least 12 months of contributions have been made.

Dependants' Benefits for Families Overseas

This is the most practically challenging area. If a foreign worker dies and their dependants (spouse and children) live outside Malaysia, SOCSO must verify:

• The marriage (certified marriage certificate with official translation)
• The children (birth certificates with official translation)
• The identity and bank details of the recipients

The process takes longer than for Malaysian dependants — typically 3 to 6 months — but the entitlement is the same. PERKESO's Foreign Workers Division handles these cases. The employer or the worker's embassy can assist with documentation.

Employer Obligations for Foreign Worker SOCSO

Registration

Register the foreign worker with SOCSO on or before their first day of employment. Use PERKESO Assist (assist.perkeso.gov.my) or submit Form 2 (Employee Registration Form) to a PERKESO office.

Documents required:

• Copy of worker's passport (photo page and work permit page)
• Worker's passport-sized photograph
• Worker's employment contract or offer letter

Monthly contributions

Submit and pay contributions monthly, same process as for local employees. Use PERKESO Assist. Pay by the 15th of the following month.

Accident reporting

If a foreign worker is injured at work, the employer must report it to SOCSO within 48 hours using Form 21 (Accident Report), the same as for any other employee. Failure to report is an offence.

Repatriation and SOCSO

If a foreign worker is repatriated due to a workplace injury that prevents them from continuing employment, SOCSO benefits continue to be payable — the worker's departure from Malaysia does not extinguish their entitlement. The employer should assist the worker with maintaining contact with SOCSO for ongoing benefit payments.

If a foreign worker is repatriated for other reasons (end of contract, disciplinary dismissal), SOCSO coverage ceases on the last day of employment in Malaysia. No refund of contributions is available.

Common Mistakes Employers Make with Foreign Worker SOCSO

1. Assuming foreign workers are not covered

This was the law before 2019. It is no longer true. All foreign workers with valid work permits must be covered. Assuming otherwise leads to uninsured workplace injuries and penalties.

2. Using a different SOCSO rate for foreign workers

The contribution rates are the same. There is no "foreign worker rate" or reduced-rate schedule. If the payroll system applies a different rate, it is wrong.

3. Failing to update SOCSO when a work permit is renewed

When a foreign worker's permit is renewed, the employer should verify that the SOCSO registration remains active and correctly linked to the renewed permit. The SOCSO number should not change — it is the same for the same worker across renewals.

4. Deducing EIS from foreign workers' salaries

EIS does not apply to foreign workers. If the payslip shows an EIS deduction for a foreign worker, it has been deducted in error and should be reimbursed.

SOCSO After Employment Ends — Repatriation

If the worker leaves Malaysia permanently

SOCSO coverage ends on the last day of employment in Malaysia. If the worker has an ongoing SOCSO claim (for example, a temporary disablement benefit still being paid), the benefit continues to the worker's overseas bank account or through PERKESO's arrangement with the worker's home country social security agency (where a bilateral agreement exists).

Refund of SOCSO contributions

SOCSO contributions are not refundable. Unlike EPF, which foreign workers can withdraw when leaving Malaysia permanently, SOCSO contributions are insurance premiums — they are not savings and cannot be withdrawn or refunded.

FAQ

Are expatriates on Employment Pass covered by SOCSO?

Yes. SOCSO applies to all foreign employees with valid work permits, including expatriates on Employment Pass, Residence Pass-Talent, and Professional Visit Pass. The contribution rates are the same, and the salary ceiling of RM5,000 applies. An expatriate earning RM20,000 per month has SOCSO contributions calculated on RM5,000 only.

Do foreign domestic workers (maids) need SOCSO?

Domestic workers are not automatically covered by SOCSO under the Act. However, employers can — and are encouraged to — voluntarily register domestic workers for SOCSO under the Employment Injury Scheme. Some foreign worker insurance policies required by the Immigration Department for domestic workers include SOCSO-equivalent coverage, but this is a separate product from statutory SOCSO.

What happens if a foreign worker is injured and the employer never registered them?

The employer is liable for the full cost of medical treatment. Additionally, SOCSO can compel the employer to pay backdated contributions from the worker's first day of employment with interest, and the employer faces penalties of up to RM10,000 or 2 years' imprisonment. The worker's entitlement to SOCSO benefits may be preserved if SOCSO determines that the worker was an eligible employee — SOCSO may pay the benefit and then recover the cost from the employer.

Can a foreign worker check their SOCSO contributions online?

Yes. Foreign workers can register for the iPERKESO mobile app using their passport number. The contribution history is displayed the same way as for Malaysian workers. The PERKESO public portal's NRIC-based check may not work with a passport number — the app is the recommended method.

Does SOCSO cover foreign workers in Sabah and Sarawak?

Yes. SOCSO coverage is national and applies uniformly in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, Sarawak, and Labuan. There is no geographic exclusion for foreign workers.

SOCSO for foreign workers is one of the most commonly overlooked compliance obligations in Malaysian employment — and the consequences of getting it wrong fall hardest on the worker, who may need medical treatment they are entitled to but cannot access because the contribution was never made. The rules are simple: register on day one, contribute monthly at the standard rates, and report workplace accidents within 48 hours — exactly the same as for every other employee.

For a full breakdown of all statutory costs per worker — SOCSO, EPF, EIS, and PCB — use the DuitTools salary calculator .