PETALING JAYA: The number of self-employed individuals who contributed to the Social Security Organisation (Socso) doubled from 71,000 in 2019 to 142,000 now. Socso said the number of active self-employed individuals who have registered and contributed increased from 2,338 individuals in 2017 to more than 71,000 individuals in 2019. It noted that in 2020, this increased to more than 80,000 individuals, and the number soared to more than 142,000 individuals to date. "This surge is the result of the government's recognition of the role of those who are self-employed, including gig workers facing the Covid-19 pandemic," it said in a statement on Saturday (May 8). Socso said this was discussed in the third National Employment Council (NEC) meeting chaired by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday (May 7).