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PETALING JAYA (THE STAR / ASIA NEWS NETWORK) – Malaysia imposed mandatory Covid-19 screening for 1.7 million foreign workers in light of the high number of cases involving the group.
And from Thursday (November 26), the authorities will also begin to impose a fine of RM 50,000 (Singapore $ 16,442) per worker if employers house their foreign staff in crowded spaces.
Chief Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, who announced this, said that the first phase of the Covid-19 detection involving 888,342 foreign workers will take place in Selangor, Labuan, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Negeri Sembilan.
“The Ministry of Human Resources would start enforcing the Minimum Standards for Housing and Services for Workers Act 1990 as of tomorrow (Thursday, November 26). Employers who disobey the regulations will be fined RM50,000 per worker,” he said. on Wednesday.
He called on employers to take the initiative to have their workers undergo Covid-19 testing 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.
Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri said it would be a big challenge even if only 1 percent 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 recorded across the country in one day.
“Of the 1,623 positive cases recorded 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 screening tests had been performed, of which 2,684 were positive.”
He said authorities had imposed an enhanced movement control order (MCO) on 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 will continue to monitor and evaluate the situation from time to time,” he added.
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