Miti: Exempted firms can operate with 70pct workforce

CORONAVIRUS | Firms that are allowed to operate during the movement control order (MCO) period can have up to 70 percent of their staff in the workplace.

According to the International Trade and Industry Ministry’s (Miti) rules, staff will also have to observe strict social distancing, perform regular sanitisation works and adopt strict safety procedures.

Operating hours will be determined by local authorities – which is generally 8am to 8pm – although the manufacturing sector can operate round the clock if they provide Miti with their shift roster.

Every staff at the workplace must be provided with an adequate supply of masks, access to hand sanitisers and other necessary safety equipment.

For instance, frontline staff such as a cashier must not only wear a mask but also a face shield.

Sanitisation works of common spaces – lifts, cafeterias and meeting rooms, among others – in the workplace should also take place before every shift begins.

These were among the rules outlined on Miti's website for MCO exemptions.

For employees who reside in a district that is different from their workplace, they will need to prove they are Covid-19 free and have undergone quarantine for 14 days.

Miti also required firms to nominate a staff who will coordinate all the efforts to prevent the spread of Covid-19 in the workplace.

Ideally, this person should be a certified health and safety officer, occupational safety and health officer or site safety supervisor.

All staff who enter the workplace must have their temperature recorded. These records must be kept for at least three months.

Any staff who records a temperature of 37.5° Celsius and above must not be allowed into the workplace and brought for treatment.

If an employee is infected by Covid-19, then the employer is responsible for the cost of treatment, sanitisation works and other costs.

Eligible firms must display their operating permit from Miti which will carry a QR code that can be used by enforcement personnel for verification purposes. - Mkini