Don't force workers to pay for free vaccines, minister warns employers

 

Human Resources Minister M Saravanan has reportedly warned employers against forcing their workers to pay for Covid-19 vaccines provided for free by the government.

"I don't see any reason for this," said Saravanan (above) as quoted by online portal Free Malaysia Today, in reference to a proposal by the Malaysian Shopping Malls Associations (MSMA) for its members to set up on-site vaccination centres for their retailers at a subsidised cost of RM50 per participant.

"I would like to remind everyone not to force workers to pay for vaccines as the government is giving them free to everyone," Saravanan was quoted as saying.

According to the report, the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) also took a swipe at the association, stressing that all related costs should be borne by employers.

MTUC deputy president Mohd Effendy Abdul Ghani said it was unfair to make employees pay for their vaccines, urging retail workers to lodge a formal complaint if forced to do so.

When contacted for a response to Saravanan's statement, a representative from MSMA cited its two past statements regarding the vaccination exercise, mooted to support an ongoing Economic Frontliners Vaccination Programme under the Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Ministry, targeting 500,000 retail workers.

"This is an optional programme, not compulsory for workers," the representative told Malaysiakini.

It was previously reported that unlike the current National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme, which is free, each retail worker and staff who opted for on-site vaccination at the malls would be charged a nominal fee of RM50 for the two required doses of either the Pfizer-BioNTech or Sinovac vaccine.

MSMA had also explained the estimated cost of providing the venue, logistics, manpower and standby ambulance service for the on-site vaccination centre will amount to RM100 to RM150 per person, but participants would be charged a subsidised rate. - Mkini