Some bosses are hiding workers’ positive Covid-19 status, says minister

 

Some companies have not reported their Covid-19 positive workers to the health ministry for fear of having to halt operations. (Bernama pic)

MERSING: There are employers who have been found to hide their employees’ Covid-19 positive status for fear of not being able to operate at full capacity, said human resources minister M Saravanan today.

He said there were still some companies that refused to make reports on their employees who tested positive for Covid-19.

“I have given a warning to the related companies. There are also positive cases but (the employers) do not inform the health ministry for fear they will not be able to operate,” he told Bernama here today.

He said such a move was bad practice, especially when the country is at war with a pandemic.

“I urge employers if there is a positive case, please inform the health ministry (for further action),” he said.

On the people’s concerns about their jobs after the rumour that the movement control order (MCO) would be reimposed soon, Saravanan said that the government was thinking of the best way to curb the spread of the pandemic following the sharp increase in new cases.

“(Whatever steps that the government will take) will not succeed if there is no support from all parties. Recently, an employer association had said it was not appropriate to reimpose MCO.

“We see there are two crises (occurring), the first one is economic due to the implementation of MCO and the second one is the health crisis. The government is doing its best,” he said.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin is expected to make a special announcement on Monday regarding the action to be taken by the government to deal with the recent spike in Covid-19 cases. - FMT