Ismail suggests monthly salary deduction to pay for Covid-19 tests

Employers of foreign workers who do not contribute to Social Security Organisation (Socso) must find ways to pay for their workers' Covid-19 tests, said Senior Minister (security cluster) Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

"For non-contributors, the employers can always make an arrangement with their employees, for example, the employer may deduct RM50 monthly from the worker's salary.

"At the end of the day, employers are responsible for their workers because, without those employees, the companies won't be able to operate. The employers are the ones who will have to face huge losses if this were to happen.

"Treat your employees as you would your family members. Like it or not, we all have to make sacrifices. I hope employers can make that sacrifice for their workers," said Ismail (photo) in an interview with NST that was published today.

According to Ismail, 60 percent of foreign workers are Socso contributors who will, in turn, sponsor their Covid-19 tests.

Under the terms of the conditional movement control order (MCO), any business which wishes to resume operations must prove that their staff was not infected with Covid-19.

This would mean that affected businesses will have to test their workers at private facilities, which could be costly.

Ismail said employers should consider the cost of a foreign employee being tested positive Covid-19 while on the job, which would be costlier.

He said employers should view this in a positive manner because the compulsory screening was designed to save businesses.

"If one of their employees is tested positive for Covid-19, the government will shut down the company's entire operations.

"The government recently shut down the construction site in Jalan Ampang because we detected positive cases there.

"If a company takes care of its workers as recommended, its entire operations may not need to be shut down," he said.

In recent weeks, the government's Covid-19 battle has shifted to foreign workers in the Klang Valley, who make up a large part of the wet market workforce.

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