Bosses must get foreign workers tested from Jan 1

PUTRAJAYA: The directive for employers to have their foreign workers screened for Covid-19 will be enforced under Act 342, so that action can be taken against those who fail to comply, says Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Announcing that the ruling would take effect on Jan 1, the Senior Minister said the National Security Council (NSC) special meeting has decided to make it compulsory for employers to bear the quarantine and treatment costs for their foreign workers who tested positive for Covid-19.

He said the Human Resources Ministry also revealed that many employers had refused to cooperate and comply with the government’s ruling for their foreign workers to be tested.“So the NSC has agreed to enforce this order under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act so that legal action and penalties can be taken against employers who fail to abide, ” he said yesterday.

The compulsory Covid-19 screening for foreign workers took effect on Dec 1 for employers in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Sabah.

So far, 49,248 foreign workers have been screened, involving 1,900 employers.

Ismail Sabri said placing the order under the Act was necessary to ensure that foreign workers were screened.

On employers having to pay for their foreign workers’ treatment and quarantine, he said the special meeting had agreed with the proposal by the National Disaster Management Agency’s proposal as employees have medical entitlement.

“If they go to clinics, employers will have to pay.

“Now, they will also have to pay for the medical costs if their workers test positive, ” he said.

The senior minister said the government would also intensify checks on accommodations to ensure that employers comply with the ruling to provide their workers with suitable living conditions.