GEORGE TOWN – Penang plans to form “lifestyle bubbles” within the manufacturing sector to arrest the inability of factory operators and workers to shake off the Covid-19 pandemic.
Admitting that Penang continues to struggle with an average of three-digit infections daily, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has called for adherence to new measures, including the compulsory adoption of the Safe@Work initiative, which was introduced by the International Trade and Industry Ministry.
Chow said that among other things, Safe@Work creates bubbles for each worker in vulnerable situations, such as where the enforcement of physical distancing is difficult.
Such workers will occupy the same living quarters and travel in the same vehicles to limit their exposure to infection or reinfections.
“They will also dine within the same set-up, thereby creating a living safety bubble that offers a layer of protection against the virus,” said Chow after launching the third phase of Penang’s electronic smart parking mobile app at the city hall here.
“They are all living together in a bubble. This can contain any possible spread. Therefore, Penang, which has seen more than 16,000, cases is pushing for Safe@Work to be mandatory in the manufacturing sector.”
Chow said that the high number of infections are due to those working in the manufacturing sector and it is the same situation for the industrialised states of Selangor and Johor.
“Enforcement is there,” he said to a question if stricter enforcement can act as a deterrent.
“We have questioned the authorities about enforcement, and enforcement exists. For example, 47 factories were ordered closed temporarily since January for violating the standard operating procedures (SOPs).”
Meanwhile, state local government committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said local authorities have ordered the temporary closure of 1,500 types of commercial businesses since January this year due to SOP violations. – The Vibes, April 3, 2021
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