GEORGE TOWN – The Penang government will be holding a special safety meeting with the National Security Council (NSC) today to discuss procedures for the mandatory Covid-19 screening tests for foreign workers.
State housing, local government and town and country planning committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said that this special meeting will focus on certain factors of the screening tests to ensure a smooth operation for around 127,000 foreign workers in Penang.
He said that one of the factors to be considered is the capacity for the Covid-19 test and plan implementation.
“The last time the Penang government carried out the mandatory Covid-19 screening tests for some 15,000 foreign workers back in April, it took us about one month and that was only from one specific facility,” he told reporters at the Penang City Hall here.
He said other matters that need to be ironed out include the cost of the screening tests and whether there will be any form of subsidy for the employers, as well as the identification of the high-risk sectors.
“While the Penang government fully supports the federal government’s initiative to implement mandatory tests, we want to ensure that these factors are well considered in hopes that the tests can be streamlined,” he said.
On November 28, Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said in a statement that the screening would be conducted in stages for foreign workers in Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Sabah, and Labuan.
Saravanan said that the screening tests will be carried out by the Social Security Organisation in collaboration with private clinics and hospitals to ensure comprehensive implementation.
Effective December 1, high-risk areas were given priority for large-scale screening tests, starting with foreign workers in Klang, Selangor; and Seremban, Negri Sembilan.
According to Saravanan, screening tests for foreign workers within red zones in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Penang will begin by December 9, followed by tests for Sabah, Labuan, and other districts in Selangor, Penang, and Negri Sembilan on December 16. – Bernama, December 3, 2020
