Preparing for endemic stage

MALAYSIA is now preparing to enter the endemic phase of Covid-19 with 88% of its adult population fully vaccinated as at Oct 5.

This should be good for the country’s economy, which needs to be rebuilt after suffering the devastating effects of the pandemic.

Standard operating procedures (SOP) are now being established to prepare the economic sectors, including the construction industry, for full reopening amid an endemic Covid-19.

Among the primary SOP in the construction sector is the requirement for every employee to undergo RTK Antigen testing every two weeks either through self-testing or at a health facility.

According to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is also International Trade and Industry Minister, this is a proactive measure to combat the spread of Covid-19 among construction workers.

The contractor is responsible for testing all of the workforce in a construction project.

This can be quite a large group of people, hence the contractor could be constrained by the high cost of RTK Antigen testing, which is not included in any contract or insurance clause.

As a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, contractors are required to bear more contingency costs.

The government should review the SOP for this endemic phase by considering alternative approaches to avoid putting a financial burden on contractors.

I humbly suggest the following:

> Government should place a higher premium on worker safety, particularly during pandemics. This is because, despite the fact that the Covid-19 outbreak has afflicted the country for nearly two years, no policy to protect the welfare and safety of construction industry workers has been developed.

> Government agencies such as the Public Works Department and Malaysian Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) should collaborate with insurance and takaful companies to develop insurance policies that cover the cost of RTK Antigen and PCR tests, and treatment of workers infected with Covid-19.

> Simplify and fine-tune standard operating procedures for the construction industry so that they are easily understood and followed by the workers, particularly foreign workers.

> The government should invest consistently in infrastructure development such as schools, roads, bridges and digital infrastructure, as this is a critical driver of economic growth and directly impacts the construction industry.

The government must take this matter seriously to revive economic growth while developing an inclusive and balanced society based on the “Malaysian Family” concept.

ASSOC PROF DR GOH KAI CHEN , Principal researcher, Centre for Sustainable Infrastructure and Environmental management, Universiti Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia