KUALA LUMPUR - Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Berhad is strengthening its support for small and medium enterprises and the commercial sector through complimentary financial assistance for business closures and added coverage for foreign workers.

The company said the initiative aims to help businesses cope with unexpected disruptions and rising operational risks, as reported by Malaysiakini.

Allianz General noted that SMEs contribute nearly 40 per cent to Malaysia’s gross domestic product and employ almost half of the national workforce.

It said the sector remains vulnerable to unforeseen challenges that could threaten business continuity and financial stability.

“In today's challenging economic landscape, it is important for businesses to have reliable support systems in place.

“We are proud to offer financial assistance to businesses facing closures of 48 hours or more due to unexpected events, alleviating the burden during difficult times.

“Additionally, our Foreign Workers Hospitalization and Surgical (FWHS) policy now includes complimentary one-year Group Personal Accident coverage, designed to ease the financial burden on employers in the event of an accident, while providing foreign workers with extra financial protection,” said its chief executive officer, Sean Wang.

Under the Allianz Business Resilience Campaign, eligible corporate policyholders will receive one-off financial support of up to RM20,000 for prolonged closures.

The assistance applies to customers with active Allianz Business Shield, Standard Fire or Commercial Fire policies.

Allianz General said the support will be given if a covered incident forces insured premises to shut for at least 48 hours.

It said Allianz Business Shield allows customers to customise their coverage and sum insured according to their business needs.

The insurer added that its Standard Fire and Commercial Fire policies provide protection against fire-related losses and can be extended to cover floods, aircraft damage and falling trees.

It said the policies are designed to shield businesses from a wide range of operational disruptions.

The campaign will run from February 1 to December 31 until total payouts reach RM2.5 million.

Separately, Allianz General is enhancing protection for employers under its Foreign Workers Hospitalization and Surgical policy.

It said rising medical and surgical costs have increased financial pressure on businesses employing foreign workers.

The FWHS scheme is designed to help employers manage hospitalisation and treatment expenses arising from accidents or illnesses.

Allianz General said serious accidents resulting in death or permanent disability could still leave employers facing significant out-of-pocket costs.

To address this, every FWHS policy issued during the campaign period will include complimentary Group Personal Accident coverage.

The added coverage provides RM10,000 for accidental death or permanent disablement for one year.

It applies to policies issued between February 1 and December 31.

The insurer said the complimentary protection aims to reduce unexpected financial strain on employers.

It added that the initiative also provides foreign workers with additional financial security in the event of serious accidents.

Allianz General said the combined campaigns reflect its commitment to strengthening business resilience and workforce protection.

The company added that it will continue developing solutions to help Malaysian businesses navigate economic uncertainty.