GEORGE TOWN: A Penang exco man has urged Putrajaya to defer a RM737 “quarantine and treatment fee” charged or each Covid-19 positive foreign worker, saying it was too much for employers to bear.
State Trade, Industry and Entrepreneur Development Committee chairman Abdul Halim Hussain said the high fee requirement would only discourage employers from getting their foreign workers tested.
The government made it compulsory for all foreign workers in all sectors including construction, manufacturing, and commerce, to undergo Covid-19 testing from Jan 1, with the costs borne by the employers.
As at Dec 24, some 50,000 workers were tested, it was reported.
In a statement, Halim said the quarantine and treatment fee requirement which came into effect on Jan 1 was done in haste, and at a bad time as employers were facing financial hardships due to the pandemic.
Halim said the government lacked any “certainty and fairness” in helping employers with foreign workers, with no price subsidies for foreign worker testing.
He said most manufacturing industry players in Penang have enforced Covid-19 prevention measures strictly, barring few exceptions.
Recently, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow proposed that the National Security Council (MKN) approve low-risk Covid-19 centres (LRCCs) at the open sites of factories, so as to cut down the load on hospitals or other similar facilities.
He had said these LRCCs could be monitored by the district health officers from time to time and would in turn cut costs for the government in the long run.
According to a Jan 21 circular from Finance Ministry deputy secretary-general (finance) Harjeet Singh, foreign workers admitted to LRCCs are charged RM737 for a period of 10 days or at a rate of RM73.70 per day.
In the circular sighted by FMT, the fees are to cover accommodation, Covid-19 testing, and medication, Those with PLKS or Visit Pass (Temporary Work) status are to also pay the same sum. - FMT
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