EMPLOYERS of foreign workers who are not contributing to Socso will have to foot the Covid-19 screening cost for their employees, said Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan

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

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

“As for those who are not contributing, the employer must pay for it,” he told The Malaysian Insight.

“My advice to industries with foreign workers, is to make sure that they are registered with Socso.”

This, he said, is to allow businesses to adapt to the new normal after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Senior minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said yesterday that foreign workers in all sectors must undergo Covid-19 testing.

The senior minister said the National Security Council decided on compulsory screening after 27 migrant workers at a construction site in Jalan Ampang tested positive for the deadly virus.

“At the meeting today, it was decided that it will be compulsory for foreign workers in all sectors, such as construction, manufacturing and commercial, including restaurants, to undergo Covid-19 testing,” he told a daily press conference on coronavirus-related security matters today.

The cost of the tests will be borne by employers, he said.

Business groups have previously said there are delays in the screening process.

Employers allowed to start work have been told to ensure all their workers undergo a health screening at any of the 3,000 Socso panel clinics starting April 27.

But employer groups told The Malaysian Insight that rapid test kits are still not available at most of the clinics. Where the test kits are available, the queues are long.

Commenting on this, Saravanan said some clinics have received their supply while others are still waiting for it.

“Some have received while some are still waiting for test kits to arrive,” he said.

He said employers have to apply for screening online and they will then be directed to Socso to send their employees in for screening.

Saravanan added that it is unlikely for panel clinics to manage huge numbers of employees at one go.

“I don’t think the panel clinic can manage. If they apply to socso they will direct them according to the availability,” he said. – May 5, 2020.