KUALA LUMPUR – Putrajaya will not renew the temporary employment visit pass (PLKS) of foreign workers if their employers fail to send them for Covid-19 screening.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said they will be given until February 28 to do so, adding that this directive is in line with Section 11 of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988.
The section states that any authorised officer can direct any person in an infected local area to be treated or immunised, among other things.
“Employers are once again reminded to ensure foreign workers employed by them undergo Covid-19 screening, to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
“Those who have yet to send their workers for the test are urged to do so immediately. This is considering there have been a worrying increase in cases, including workplace clusters,” he said in a statement today.
Saravanan added that checks conducted by the Labour Department, found that there were still a large number of employers who had yet to compel their foreign staff to conduct the tests.
Senior Minister (Security) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob yesterday announced that all foreign workers nationwide are compelled to undergo Covid-19 swab tests, failing which action will be taken against the employers.
Previously, the government had said only foreign workers in Selangor, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur and Labuan were to be tested beginning December 1, 2020.
In a statement on Sunday, Ismail had said that 259,129 of foreign workers in the six states have done their testings, of which 4,782 are positive. – The Vibes, February 2, 2021
