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PETALING JAYA: Malaysia has imposed mandatory Covid-19 screening for 1.7 million foreign workers in light of the high number of cases involving the group.
And starting today, the authorities will also start imposing a fine of RM 50,000 per worker if employers house their foreign workers in crowded spaces.
Chief Minister (Security Group) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who announced this, said that the first phase of the detection of Covid-19 involving 888,342 foreign workers will take place in Selangor, Labuan, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Negri Sembilan.
“The Ministry of Human Resources would begin to enforce the Minimum Standards of Housing and Services for Workers Act of 1990 as of tomorrow (Thursday).
“Employers who disobey the regulations would be fined RM50,000 per worker,” he told a press conference yesterday.
He called on employers to take the initiative to get their workers tested for Covid-19 first without waiting for a directive from authorities.
“It is better to test early and pay the bill rather than wait for the disease to spread, as factory operators will suffer greater losses when their facilities are forced to close to contain the spread of Covid-19.” , said.
In terms of mandatory phasing screening, Socso would pay RM60 per employee for the rapid antigen test.
Ismail Sabri said it would be a big challenge even if only 1% of foreign workers tested positive for Covid-19.
“Where are we going to put them?” he said.
Ismail Sabri said that Top Glove is the largest contributor to Covid-19 cases in the country, accounting for 1,511 cases out of the total 2,188 registered across the country in one day.
“Of the 1,623 positive cases registered in Selangor, 1,511 are foreign workers employed at Top Glove.”
He said that of the 28 factories, 27 were ordered to close, while another was ordered to close pending Covid-19 review of all its employees and the 14-day quarantine order.
“Overall, Top Glove employed 11,215 workers. As of November 25, a total of 5,795 detection tests had been carried out, of which 2,684 were positive ”.
He said authorities had imposed an enhanced movement control order (MCO) on the male and female shelters effective November 17.
“And some 2,263 of its workers who are not staying in the shelters would also be quarantined.
“Nearby residents need not worry as all workers are screened and placed in quarantine centers, including the Gold Coast hotel in Klang Sentral and a stadium in Pandamaran.”
He said a task force had been set up to monitor the situation at Top Glove factories. The task force consisted of the Selangor National Security Council, the state Health Department, the Klang District Office, the Klang Municipal Council and the Klang Police.
“The Ministry of Health and the working group would continue to monitor and evaluate the situation from time to time,” he added.
Ismail Sabri said they have also imposed an isolation program for cargo workers at Kuala Lumpur International Airport after an increase in the number of positive cases related to Kaya’s group.
“Based on the risk assessment of the Ministry of Health, we agreed to implement the isolation program for MASKargo workers who tested negative for Covid-19 and were confirmed healthy without any symptoms.
“This isolation program runs for 14 days from November 26 to December 9.
“They will be placed in the Tune Hotel KLIA Aeropolis, with strict standard operating procedures and monitoring,” he said.
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