BUKIT MERTAJAM – Most of the 130,000 foreign workers in Penang were already screened for Covid-19 prior to Putrajaya’s directive yesterday, said Jagdeep Singh Deo.
The local government, housing and town planning exco said of the total, some 40,000 are in the construction sector.
Screenings have been carried out since the movement control order was imposed in March, he said at the Seberang Prai City Council headquarters in Bandar Perda here.
“Penang is the first state in the country to do so.”
He was responding to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s announcement on compulsory swab tests for foreign workers in all industries in Penang, Selangor, Negri Sembilan, Sabah, Kuala Lumpur and Labuan.
Jagdeep said Penang aims to comply with the National Security Council directive, and will ensure that those yet to get screened, do so.
There are now 11 Covid-19 clusters in the state.
“I have instructed the mayors of the Penang Island City Council and Seberang Prai City Council to concentrate on the identified clusters.”
Ismail Sabri yesterday said Putrajaya has allowed private clinics to carry out swab tests at construction sites or industry premises, so as to prevent long queues at government facilities.
The Social Security Organisation (Socso) will subsidise RM60 per person for foreign workers who are contributors, with the remaining cost of the swab tests to be paid by employers.
Employers with foreign workers who are not Socso contributors must pay for the tests. – The Vibes, November 21, 2020
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