LETTER | Covid-19 - urgent need to tackle workplace clusters

LETTER | It is 16 months since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country but the daily increase in the number of clusters will continue especially at workplaces in certain states.

This is of grave concern as the number of infections will not only spike but will also continue to be a threat to the healthcare system collapsing. Yesterday (June 15) 19 new clusters surfaced with the number of infections jumping from 4,949 the previous day to 5,419.

I am not wrong to say it will be difficult for the curve to flatten with new clusters occurring daily. Herd immunity could also be delayed.

The authorities should go down to the ground to find out the root cause of new clusters at workplaces. Just saying that employers and employees are wanting in adhering to the standard operating procedure (SOP) is an indication of pointing fingers.

If this is so, then the full brunt of the law must be thrown at them.

More checks should be carried out at workplaces. Stern action should be taken against employers not adhering to SOPs. A soft approach with mere fines or looking the other way does not seem to have an effect.

Hostels for foreign workers should be checked at random although the deadline to meet the minimum standard of accommodation set out by the Ministry of Human Resources has been extended to December following appeals by some companies saying they need more time.

The authorities must be firm with their deadlines. Being lax could mean trouble.

We cannot look the other way to allow lax enforcement during this pandemic. Checks on undocumented workers being employed should also be carried out at workplaces.

Employers must be responsible to have their employees’ swabs checked to ensure all are safe and free from infection.

On another note, it is mind-boggling that a company whose undocumented worker had committed suicide recently was not prosecuted.

The reason given by the authorities concerned was that the appointment/ contract letter given to the worker was not available as proof.

The company had not paid the worker’s salary in full for over six months. This itself is an offence on the part of the company

Would any employer hiring an undocumented foreign worker be willing to offer a written contract to the said worker?

Your guess is as good as mine.

Unless companies that are found to be hiring undocumented workers are severely dealt with, Malaysia will continue to attract more foreign workers to come through its porous borders to seek employment.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.