HYDERABAD, Nov 23: Sindh Employees Social Security Institute (SESSI) Commissioner, Syed Hashim Raza Zaidi, has said that the institute is spending Rs772.923 million per annum to provide medical facilities to the workers.

He said his organisation was also giving special financial assistance of Rs40.135 million on special occasion.

Speaking at a one-day seminar on the subject of “benefit of social security” as chief guest at a local hotel here on Thursday,

Mr Zaidi said that SESSI was providing free medical treatment to 440,000 registered workers and their families and added that an amount of Rs37.7 million had been earmarked during the current financial year for providing educational facilities to the children of workers.

He said the philosophy behind taking care of workers was to provide them healthy working environment free from tension.

Mr Zaidi said that four hospitals - Walika, Landhi, Hyderabad and Kotri hospitals were working under SESSI. He said only recently, a kidney centre was established in Landhi hospital and added that the services of specialist doctors were also hired for the treatment of workers.

He said a worker drawing salary of less than Rs5,000 and above Rs3,000 per month was eligible to register his name with SESSI. He said with the joint and concerted efforts of the government, employees and employers, the services could further be improved.

Vice commissioner of SESSI, Mohammad Akhtar Ghouri and others also spoke on the occasion, while the participants gave their suggestions.

The seminar was organised by the department of international relations, training and research of the institute. A large number of registered workers and employees from Hyderabad and Kotri attended the seminar.

HCCI: Mr Zaidi also addressed a meeting of the Hyderabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry and said that the only objective of social security contribution by the employees was to provide better health and other facilities to the workers.