KUALA LUMPUR - The cross-border worker protection scheme is expected to be ready by the end of 2026, with a feasibility study completed by March, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri Ramanan Ramakrishnan.

He said the Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) has been tasked with finalising the study for Cabinet approval after feedback from workers, unions and other stakeholders highlighted risks faced by Malaysians who work abroad but return home daily.

“These are not abstract concerns. When workers speak about protection and safety, they describe real risks of being left exposed if something happens while earning a living,” he said in a statement last Saturday.

Ramanan said hundreds of thousands of Malaysians cross international borders every day to work while supporting families, making cross-border protection a necessary responsibility.

He added that the scheme aims to close gaps in employment injury coverage that may not fully apply across countries, building on Malaysia’s existing Employment Injury Scheme under Perkeso.

“Employment injury protection is not only about medical treatment. It is about income security during recovery, support for families and ensuring that workers are not left exposed to financial hardship because of circumstances beyond their control,” he said.

Ramanan said the proposed coverage will include medical treatment, income replacement during temporary disablement, compensation for permanent disablement, benefits for dependents in cases of work-related death, as well as physical and vocational rehabilitation and education assistance.

“These protections are about recovery and dignity. They ensure that workers and their families are not pushed into hardship because of an accident that occurs while earning a living,” he added.

He noted that the initiative follows International Labour Organisation guidelines, stressing that worker protection must adapt to changing work patterns.

“Cross-border employment is no longer an exception,” Ramanan added, noting that commuters seek basic assurance and fairness.