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PETALING JAYA: More clarity is needed on the government directive on work from home (WFH), even as authorities recently announced that up to 10% of those with management and oversight functions can work on-site, says the Federation of Malaysia Employers (MEF).
Its chief executive, Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, said the new ruling was “difficult to understand”, especially as some companies have a small staff.
“If your company is large, 10% makes sense. But if your company is smaller, assuming you have five people in managerial or supervisory positions, then one person would already be considered 20% of that team.
“Does that mean they can’t get into the office? So who would run the operations? ”He said when contacted on Wednesday (October 21).
He suggested that it would be better if a maximum number of people allowed in the office was stipulated, according to the size of the company.
Shamsuddin added that it doesn’t make good economic sense for workers to walk into the office three days a week for just four hours a day, especially if the commute is long.
“Many people also wonder why night markets and shopping malls can open without restrictions, but there are all these restrictions for offices. Is the office environment more risky? “, He said.
Shamsuddin said there was also confusion about why the directive does not apply to office personnel in non-managerial positions.
“It is peculiar why this directive is limited to only those in managerial and supervisory roles. Since the government declared that Klang Valley was subject to the conditional movement control order (MCO), many employers have already adopted WFH agreements.
“Some have rotated work among staff so that at any given time, there will only be about 50% of the workforce in the office,” he said.
Shamsuddin said that while the Human Resources Ministry also announced that Social Security Organization (Socso) taxpayers can take free Covid-19 screenings, he was concerned about the loss of time companies face while results are pending. .
“We are grateful for the clarification and it is appropriate that companies are the ones to make the appointment with Socso directly. However, the main issue is whether the Socso panel (clinics) can cope with the sudden increase in demand for Covid-19. tests.
“The question is also whether those who have to be tested are those in managerial and supervisory positions, or does it apply to all workers living in the red zones?
“Swab testing also takes some time before results can be seen, unless we run rapid tests instead,” he said, adding that employers would have to shell out additional costs for testing as well, as Socso It only subsidizes up to RM 150 for each employee.
On Wednesday (October 21), the Minister of Industry and International Trade, Datuk Seri Azmin Ali, said in a statement that a maximum of 10% of those in management and supervisory positions can work at the site.
He said these workers will only be allowed to enter their workplaces for four hours (10 a.m. to 2 p.m.) every day, for no more than three days a week, and they must get a letter of their employers for this purpose.
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