Penang CM tells FMM, Redha to ensure safety of their migrant workers

CORONAVIRUS | Employers such as the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) and the Real Estates and Housing Developers Association's Penang branch have been advised to ensure that the safety and welfare of their workers, including migrants, are well-taken care of.

Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said FMM has provided feedback that its migrant workers have been instructed to strictly comply with the movement control order (MCO).

He said these workers have been told to adopt public health measures such as social distancing and for those who are involved in factory operations of essential services, face masks and hand sanitisers would be prepared for them.

"To ensure everyone’s safety in the state, enforcement officers from the two city councils regularly monitor the working conditions of construction sites to ensure they are MCO compliant," he said, during his Facebook Live press conference today.

Malaysia has entered day 27 of the enforcement of the MCO, which has been extended to April 28.

Last week, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced a 25 percent reduction in foreign worker levy from April to December 2020.

This was part of the government's RM10 billion additional allocation for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the Prihatin economic stimulus package.

Migrant worker communities in Malaysia have been identified as being among the vulnerable groups affected by the shutdown of various operations not listed as an essential service.

"If the safety and health of the migrant community in Penang are not safeguarded, this will indirectly mean that we will not be able to break the virus’ infection chain.

"Should we fail to break the infection chain, in the end, the people of Penang and Malaysians are the ones that will be affected," Chow said.

On the issue of welfare, the chief minister said feedback received by the state government so far is that employers are still paying wages to their migrant workers.

However, the state also received complaints from employers, especially SME entrepreneurs, that the extended MCO will place a heavy financial burden on them, Chow added.

20,000 packs of food aid

For the refugee community, Chow said the state government has been cooperating with NGOs which provide services for them.

These NGOs include Persatuan Komuniti Berdikari, Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign, Aspire Penang, Malaysian Relief Agency, Doctors Without Borders Caremongers Penang and the Penang Working Group, among others.

"In fact, last week, I approved an allocation for Persatuan Komuniti Berdikari to aid the refugee community in our state.

"As announced on April 4, the distribution of foodstuff totalling 20,000 packs with the approval of the state executive council has begun in the Southwest district yesterday," he said.

Chow said such efforts would be continued in stages to lighten the burdens of the following target groups:

- Welfare aid recipients

- Program Agenda Ekonomi Saksama (AES) aid recipients

- Residents of People’s Housing Projects (PPR) or low-cost homes

- Any individuals/families who have been identified as eligible to receive aid by a state assembly member.

Chow said there are five main centres for the collection and distribution of foodstuff prepared by the state government.

They are the Mutiara Food Bank operating at Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang for the North East District; Dewan Kompleks Pasar Awam Balik Pulau for the South West District; Pejabat Persatuan Bomba dan Sukarela Raja Uda for Northern Seberang Perai District; Dewan JKR Taman Bukit Kecil, Bukit Mertajam for Central Seberang Perai District and Dewan MPKK Bukit Panchor, Nibong Tebal for Southern Seberang Perai District.

Internet connectivity important

Meanwhile, Chow said he visited the Air Itam Public Market this morning to monitor its compliance with the MCO.

"I was approached by a parent who complained that the internet connection at his apartment near Green Garden in Paya Terubong is so weak that it affects his child’s online studies with a university.

"As a solution, his child wanted to go to his grandfather’s home which is in Air Itam but was stopped because of the MCO," Chow said.

"While this might be just a small matter for some, I feel that Internet connectivity is very important during the MCO period and this should be given special attention," he added.

Chow said another feedback he received this morning was about the inaccessibility of the Ministry of International Trade & Industry website.

"I hope all these issues will be resolved immediately.

"As a people-centric state government, we are committed to ensuring that everyone complies with the MCO so that Penang and Malaysia will soon be free of the Covid-19 pandemic," he said. - Mkini