EMPLOYERS asked Putrajaya for alternative methods to fund the mandatory Covid-19 tests for their foreign workers apart from the  Social Security Organisation (Socso).

They told The Malaysian Insight that even though Socso offered those workers free virus tests via the Prihatin Screening Programme (PSP), not all employers registered their foreign labourers for social security protection.

Malaysian Indian Restaurant Owners Association (Primas) president T. Muthusamy said Putrajaya should consider allowing the workers to get tested via the Foreign Worker Hospitalisation and Surgical Scheme (SKHPPA).

This would not burden the employers who are already feeling the financial impact of the pandemic and the movement control order (MCO).

He said it was compulsory for employers to contribute to SKHPPA .

“To burden the employers with the added expenditure (of testing foreign workers) is going to be tough on them because at this point in time, cashflow is crucial for all employers.

“They should be able to use the SKHPPA because they pay the insurance contribution every year for foreign workers.

“A very minimal percentage of foreign workers would use this fund. The government could talk with the insurance companies and ask them to bear the costs,” Muthusamy said.

The government has instructed employers to get their foreign workers screened for Covid-19 to prevent new infection clusters. The costs would be borne by the Socso scheme.

More than 60% of foreign workers contribute to Socso.

Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan told The Malaysian Insight that employers of foreign workers who do not contribute to Socso would have to pay for the tests themselves.

Association of Employment Agencies Malaysia president Foo Yong Hooi said to reduce the costs, government  hospitals should conduct the screenings instead of private facilities.

“The government should carry out the Covid-19 tests instead of private healthcare.

“Private healthcare is profit orientated whereas the government already has the manpower and facilities to conduct the tests. It doesn’t have to charge exorbitant fees like the private healthcare centres.”

Malaysian Indian Muslim Restaurant Owner Association president Jawahar Ali Taib Khan said businesses are going though hard times and that most have suffered losses in the last two months due to the MCO.

He said it would help if private hospitals could offer a good package for employers whose foreign workers are not registered with Socso.

“Everyone must undergo the test like the government says except that the cost is a stumbling block for those who are not registered with Socso.

“So if private healthcare centres could come up with a reasonable package, it would help employers,” Jawahar said.

The Human Resource Ministry said 44,500 out of nearly 300,000 foreign workers have been screened for Covid-19 via the Socso-sponsored scheme.

The reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction test or antibody rapid test is used to screen for the coronavirus.

Tests are available at 39 locations, including mobile units, nationwide. – May 9, 2020.