FOREIGN workers have to be screened for Covid-19 to prevent new infection clusters, Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said, as Malaysia should avoid facing a similar issue as Singapore.

“This is a new requirement because we are concerned of a migrant worker cluster,” he said in the daily press conference in Putrajaya today.

He added there have been an increase in Covid-19 cases in the past three days and a construction site in Jalan Ampang was closed after 27 workers tested positive for the virus.

“We don’t want what happened in our neighbouring country Singapore to happen to us,” he said, adding that the initiative will start with construction workers.

Infections rose quickly in Singapore following the detection of Covid-19 in dormitories of migrant worker.  

Ismail Sabri was responding to the concerns of the Malaysian Employers Federation that employers could end up spending up to RM1 billion if they followed the directive for the mandatory screening of all foreign workers.

“I hope the Malaysian Employers Federation understands that what we are doing is for the welfare of our people,” he said.

He added that businesses will be closed if positive cases are detected at the premises, hence screening employees will help prevent closures and allow positive cases to be treated while those who are not infected can return to work.

Ismail said more than 60% of foreign workers are Socso contributors, so the social security fund will bear the screening cost.

Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan told The Malaysian Insight earlier that employers of foreign workers who are not contributing to Socso will have to foot the Covid-19 screening cost for their employees.

Foreign workers, including expatriates, are now required to be screened for Covid-19.

However, contributing employers will be covered by the fund.  

“We are insisting that all foreigners must go through the screening but those who are contributing will be sent to our panel clinics.

“As for those who are not contributing, the employers must pay for it,” he told The Malaysian Insight. – May 5, 2020.