THE National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (Nufam) has urged the Health Ministry to investigate complaints about a lack of virus screening for flight crews.

The union said cabin crews were quarantined for 72 hours before a flight, which was inadequate and not in accordance with Health Ministry guidelines.

“We have received many calls concerning the screening of airline crews,” Nufam said today in a statement.

It urged the airlines not to take the matter lightly or take shortcuts as lives are involved.

The union has written to the Transport and Health Ministries and the National Security Council to ensure all airline companies applied the recommended Covid-19 screening procedures for staff.

Nufam wants airline employees to be tested before they return to work when the movement control order (MCO) is lifted.

Airlines last week resumed some flights from the peninsula to Sabah and Sarawak which were barred when the MCO was introduced on March 18 to curb the spread of Covid-19.

“It is important that all workers are properly screened to ensure they do not have the virus,” Nufam said.

The union said the authorities should also review the decision to allow flights to resume at this time, which contravened the recommendations of the Health Ministry and World Health Organisation.

It said passengers should not be seated close together while the crew must observe social distancing.

“Airlines should not be operating on the usual scale because the virus is still proliferating and the issue of workers’ safety cannot be compromised.” – April 23, 2020.