KUALA LUMPUR – New regulations have been announced for worker housing on construction sites, following a spike in Covid-19 cases in these places.
Housing and Local Government Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin said the new standard operating procedures concern the application for temporary building permits for such accommodation.
“Throughout the period of Covid-19 transmissions, numerous construction site clusters have been detected, indicating that construction site workers, especially foreigners, are at risk of contracting Covid-19,” she said in a statement today.
“The risk of contagion is becoming more serious due to the crowded accommodation or congestion in single residential units, apart from the low level of cleanliness on the premises.”
The new procedure interprets more clearly existing provisions under the Town and Country Planning Act (Act 172), Street, Drainage and Building Act (Act 133), and Uniform Building By-Laws 1984 (UKBS 1984).
“Legislation allows for the building of houses for construction workers on construction sites that have been given approval for planning permission.
“However, the temporary permit issued by the local authority should be obtained.”
The Health Ministry in recent weeks announced that thousands of coronavirus infections were linked to workplace clusters.
These include the Damanlela and Teratai clusters in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor, as well as the Cergas cluster, spread across Negri Sembilan, Kelantan and Selangor.
Many of the workplace clusters have been attributed to poor social distancing and cramped living conditions.
Zuraida said the improvements to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of the temporary permit application process include the provision of uniformed flow charts and coordination of document checklists, as well as a special permission application to commence building work simultaneously with the permit application.
They also include the preparation of a fire safety compliance checklist prior to the submission of the application to local authorities, an exemption from reference to the Fire and Rescue Department to obtain remarks, and a shorter duration for the permit approval process, from 33 days to 10.
The enforcement of the Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities (Amendment) Act 2019 (Act 446) will also help prevent the spread of the virus, in line with the International Labour Organisation’s Recommendation 115 (Workers’ Housing Recommendation 1961), she said.
She said the changes will improve the service delivery process for the ministry and local authorities.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan had said Act 446 was effective September 1, and it aimed to address elements of forced labour and human trafficking in the labour industry.
It was reported that the act spells out the need for employers to apply for certificates of accommodation from the Labour Department. – The Vibes, December 15, 2020
