PETALING JAYA: Employers around the country are hoping for more time to prepare for the mandatory Covid-19 screening of their foreign workers, which is to be enforced starting from Jan 1.
Calling for more details about the implementation of the ruling, Johor Master Builders Association president Tee See Kim said employers should be given a grace period to carry out the necessary preparations.
“We are still in the dark about the new ruling. We cannot start booking appointments with the labs to conduct Covid-19 screening for our workers as we do not know the list of places where we can go and later ask for reimbursements from government or Socso.
“Previously, we had to go to private labs instead of the ones appointed by the government as it was difficult to get an appointment due to the high volume of tests.
“We ended up having to pay for the tests ourselves. If that happens again this time, we will definitely not be able to bear the burden, ” he said, hoping that the more labs and clinics would be appointed by the government.
“There should also be a grace period as it will not be possible for employers to do the screening in such a short duration, ” he said.
Muslim Restaurants Association of Malaysia (Presma) said it had requested for a six-month grace period for companies and restaurants to comply with the ruling.
Penang Presma committee head Abdul Aziz Shik Ahmad said as there was quite a number of foreign workers in Muslim restaurants, the grace period would make it easier for employers to get all of them tested.
“Restaurants are going through difficult times. If all workers are sent for testing, this will further disrupt their business. This has to be carefully planned out, ” he said, urging the government to get tough only after the grace period.
Johor Indian Muslim Entrepreneurs Association secretary Hussein Ibrahim said the ruling could further hurt businesses already suffering from the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We are already bleeding money to adhere to the SOP and this would make it more difficult for us to remain in business.
“We need more time if the ruling were to be made compulsory for all employers as we need to fork out enough money to cover the cost of the screenings as well as book appointments, ” he said.
Hussein said previously, bosses were told that the ruling would only affect employers in some states and that Socso would pay RM60 for the test.
“But we are unsure if things will be the same this time. I hope that the government will provide more information before imposing the ruling and give us at least a month or two to prepare.
“Most businesses, especially those with a high number of foreign workers, may not be able to afford it at such a short notice and have to cut their employees’ pay to cover part of the cost or lose more workers, ” he said.
Over half of his workers, according to Hussein, had resigned and returned to their home country since the pandemic began.
“Now, I have 10 foreign workers in my restaurants and two sundry shops in Johor Baru. I would lose more manpower if the ruling were to be made compulsory by Jan 1 for all states, including Johor, and the government does not help in covering the cost, ” he said.
Johor Baru Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry president Low Kueck Shin asked the government to adopt a targeted screening system instead of a blanket enforcement for all employers.
“The government should have mandatory screening only in areas with a high number of cases as this will be more cost-effective.
“There is no guarantee that a negative Covid-19 result this month means that the employee is free from the disease. If they are tested positive in the future, it will be unfair to have employers penalised by them having to pay for the treatment and quarantine cost, ” he said.
Low said as the government had imposed a high levy on foreign workers, this should be used to help employers cover the cost.
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