Employers balance Covid-19 workers’ screening and cost to business

KUALA LUMPUR – Although employers have welcomed the mandatory Covid-19 testing for their workers, many are wary of its cost to businesses.
 
Malaysian Malay Contractors’ Association president Datuk Seri Mohamed Fadzill Hassan told The Vibes that construction companies with big projects will have to shell out a lot more, given that they hire many foreign workers.
 
“This move will see an increase of cost for employers as a big project will probably have 300 to 400 workers.”
 
He added that while foreign workers who contribute to Socso receive subsidies for the test, many more migrant workers are not covered.
 
“They can test negative today, but they are still open to the risk of being infected as they travel, socialise and so on. Having mandatory vaccination is better.”
 
Meanwhile, Federation of Livestock Farmers president Tan Chee Hee said testing will affect their expenses as the livestock industry hires a lot of workers.
 
“Of course, our expenses will increase, but we agree with the government to do these tests.
 
“Without such an initiative, we can't control the Covid-19 situation.”
 
However, he expressed hope that the government would ease the burden of employers through tax reliefs.
 
“We are seeing an additional 3% increase to our monthly operating costs; we can absorb that. Further, the RTK tests don’t take too much time so our operations can proceed smoothly,” he said.
 
SME Association of Malaysia president Datuk Michael Kang said this is the cost of fighting the pandemic.
 
“Yes, it affects businesses, but it is better to have mandatory testing so operations can continue. If there is a positive case in a factory, the entire operation must shut down.
 
“We must learn to survive with this virus in the new normal.”
 
He said businesses are able to budget for the cost of screening.
 
On the other hand, Socialist Party of Malaysia deputy chairman S. Arul believes that the government should make the testing free if it intends to fight Covid-19.
 
“If our motive is to fight Covid-19, then we should not make it difficult to get tested, and at least make it free or cheap.”
 
Arul suggested that the screening policy not be the same for every industry. He said the government must consider the plight of SMEs and subsidise the screenings of their employees.
 
“What about our local workers? We should screen the entire workforce, too.”
 
However, Arul warned that companies may try to skirt regulations and avoid screening if they are not able to bear the costs. – The Vibes, December 29, 2020