ACTION can be taken under the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 (OSH 1994) against workers who refuse to get their Covid-19 vaccine, for causing an unsafe environment at the workplace.

Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan said although there are no legal provisions that mandate Covid-19 vaccinations, the OSH 1994 requires employers to ensure the safety and health of themselves and others at the workplace.

“The public can argue that there is no new act but the act related to safety at the workplace can still be enforced. We cannot take action if we see someone is not vaccinated. But we can take action because the place is not safe in terms of the environment,” he told reporters today.

Saravanan said the ministry will also conduct checks on existing factories to ensure that good ventilation systems are in place.
 
He urged all quarters to support the country’s vaccination programme so as to curb the spread of Covid-19, especially in workplaces.

Dr Shawaludin Husin, the president of the Malaysian Society for Occupational Safety and Health was reported saying on Wednesday that employers do not have the power to force employees to take Covid-19 vaccine jabs.

Shawaludin said that such a regulation is not suitable at this juncture as there are no legal provisions that make Covid-19 vaccination compulsory. – Bernama, September 3, 2021.