Vaccinate retail sector workers fast, minister tells govt

 

Seven supermarkets in the country are closed as most of their workers are under quarantine.

PETALING JAYA: The domestic trade and consumer affairs ministry has urged the government to prioritise vaccination for frontliners in the retail industry as the sector plays a crucial role in rebuilding the national economy.

Minister Alexander Nanta Linggi said he had met industry players who had expressed great concern over the plight of the sector and its workers.

“We are concerned over the effect of the Covid-19 pandemic on the retail sector. Some are not allowed to operate while others can only do so in a limited capacity.

“It is time the government looked into the welfare of the industry workers because they are at high risk, having to serve customers directly,” he said in a statement.

Linggi said 1,162 workers from various supermarkets had contracted Covid-19 so far, adding that this had prompted the supermarkets to close.

“Up to now, seven supermarkets in the country are closed as most of their workers are under quarantine,” he said.

Linggi said he hoped his ministry’s collaboration with the science, technology and innovation and health ministries on this matter would result in a positive outcome for these retail workers.

“We have suggested for them (retail workers) to be vaccinated from this month.

“It is not fair to make them wait. They have complied with all the SOPs and statistics show that only 0.8% of the outbreak was from the retail sector,” he added.

Retailers’ associations had earlier expressed their disappointment that the vaccination for the sector’s 500,000 workers had been pushed back.

The groups said they had been informed that vaccinations for the sector, initially slated to begin this month, has been pushed to August. - FMT