Fomema hike irks bosses

Checking for anything: A foreign worker leaving after doing a Fomema medical checkup at a clinic in Jalan Pudu, Kuala Lumpur. — AZMAN GHANI/The Star

PETALING JAYA: The mandatory medical screening fees for foreign workers has seen a 10% to 14% hike since Dec 16, but there has been no official announcement by the relevant ministries, which has left employers upset.

Instead, the RM27 fee hike was announced by Fomema Sdn Bhd, the company operating the screening system.

The Association of Employment Agencies Malaysia (PAPA) felt the move was wrongly done.

“An increase can be accepted if it is done to better protect the healthcare of the nation and families due to the rise in diseases among foreign workers.

“But this should not be announced by a private company. It should be announced by the relevant ministry and backed up by data,” said PAPA vice-president Suresh Tan..

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Previously, health examination charges by Fomema were RM190 for male and RM207 for female foreign workers which covered screening for HIV, Hepatitis B, syphilis and pregnancy, including use of opiates and cannabis.

The screening fees have been increased to RM207 for males and RM217 for females and expanded to include three new categories, namely, filariasis (roundworm), Hepatitis C and methamphetamine.

On Jan 3, Fomema announced that fresh intake of foreign workers must undergo mandatory health screenings annually.

Previously, foreign workers were required to undergo screening after three years followed by screenings on alternate years.

Tan suggested that there be a standardised medical screening of foreign workers between source country and Malaysia to avoid unnecessary problems.

“I personally experienced a situation where two foreign maids, who had passed their health screening at the source country, failed their screenings here due to inactive Hepatitis B and scarred lungs,” he said.

Meanwhile, PAPA president Datuk Foo Yong Hooi said the increment was reasonable but questioned the need for it to be done annually.

He said employers with a large number of foreign workers would have to fork out significant expenses for the annual medical health check-up.

National Association of Human Resources Malaysia (Pusma) president Zarina Ismail also said the hike was reasonable as there were concerns over the rise of communicable disease among foreign workers.

However, Zarina suggested that the relevant ministry provide an explanation behind the increase.