Workers of additional economic sectors must undergo Covid-19 screening, says Azmin (updated)

PUTRAJAYA: The additional economic sectors allowed to operate will have to have their workers undergo Covid-19 screening.

This is among conditions set by the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) in allowing certain businesses and sectors to operate during the third phase of the movement control order (MCO).

Its minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali (pic) said this is a safety measure to ensure all workers of companies allowed to operate are free of Covid-19.

"The ministry will collaborate with the Human Resource Ministry through Socso where all workers are required to undergo the screening.

"Employers applying to operate must ensure that all their workers undergo screening at any of the 3,000 Socso panel clinics nationwide according to the Health Ministry guidelines," he said on Thursday (April 16).

Azmin also said companies allowed to operate must ensure their workers' movement is confined to between their homes and their workplaces only.

He said companies are required to provide thermal scanners as well as screening for Covid-19 symptoms such as coughing, sore throat or breathing difficulties.

The readings of the workers must be recorded and kept for a period of at least three months for reference, he said.

Azmin said for the construction industry, companies allowed to operate must reduce the number of workers to the bare minimum or not exceeding 50% of what is currently needed.

"They must cooperate with the Health Ministry in executing contact tracing of workers that have been infected with Covid-19.

"Companies must provide transportation for workers and practise social distancing and the vehicles used must be sanitised before and after use.

"In cases where companies provide Centralised Labour Quarter (CLQ) facilities, they must comply with the CLQ guidelines as well as guidelines on Construction Workers Accommodation during MCO issued by CIDB or other relevant agencies," he said.

All companies that were already allowed to operate during the first and second phase of the MCO need not re-apply for approval to operate as their services were already gazetted, said Azmin.

During the first and second phase of the MCO, the government received a total of 12,360 applications from companies to operate, he said.

"Compared to the third phase, there were a total of 18,650 applications on the first day that the online applications opened for additional businesses to apply.

"Certain sectors now allowed to operate include the automotive industry, machinery and equipment, aerospace industry, construction projects as well as science, professional and technical services including research & development (R&D)," he said.

He also said social health services including registered traditional and complementary medicine (TCM) practitioners, hardware shops, electrical and electronics (E&E) shops and laundry services are also among the additional businesses allowed to operate.

“The ministry has been provided with guidelines on health precautions and strict movement control from the Health Ministry that are to be adopted and complied with by the companies that are allowed to operate,” said Azmin.

Azmin said enforcement units comprising the Public Works Department, Kuala Lumpur City Hall, local authorities, and the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) must monitor and enforce compliance by approved companies and to take action against those that operate without approval.

“My ministry is also collaborating with the police and Labour Department to monitor the activities of the industries required to comply with the standard operating procedure,” he said.

Azmin said that to date, Miti has revoked the approvals of four companies that have violated the conditions and investigations are being conducted against 35 companies.