CASH-FLOW problems among smaller security companies could be one of the reasons a high number of guards are infected with Covid-19 recently, said security associations and employer groups.

Most sectors are reeling from the economic impact of the pandemic and smaller security companies are no exemption, with some finding it difficult to send their guards for Covid-19 testing and to improve living quarters for their employees.

While bigger and more established companies are able to comply with the standard operating procedure, employee screenings and better housing, a small fraction within the industry would prefer to conserve cash for survival.

MEF executive director Shamsuddin Bardan said smaller firms, categorised as micro-employers, need all the cash in hand to stay afloat.

“The big companies are following (the SOP), the smaller ones are very much challenged.

“Right now, it is even more difficult when they are incurring more costs during times like these,” he said, referring to the conditional movement-control order (CMCO) currently in force in Sabah, Klang Valley and Putrajaya.

He was commenting on the spike in Covid-19 cases among guards and foreign workers and the connection with delays in implementing improved housing under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990, which took effect on September 1.

Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan said previously the amended act would apply to all sectors, in the hope that new regulations on better standards for employees’ housing would help curb the spread of Covid-19.

Employers, however, have requested more time for implementation.

Check living arrangements

Shamsuddin said micro-employers are finding it challenging to provide housing in accordance with the new standards.

“They (employers) need all the cash to pay wages, fixed costs, such rentals. If not, they won’t be able to survive.

“We believe the smaller players are less than 10% of the market. There is no issue with the bigger players complying with the guidelines.”

Shamsudin also suggests that the authorities conduct more checks on workers’ dormitories and explain what is required regarding fighting the pandemic.

“Educate them how to handle waste, hygiene and educate them on Covid-19.”

Security Industry Association of Malaysia (PIKM) president Ramli Yusuff said the group’s members are complying with the act on minimum standards for workers’ housing.

He said one trend now is the rental of more places to house guards in order to maintain social distancing, rather than placing all employees in a one home.

Problems in implementing better housing and Covid-19 SOP could arise when licensed companies franchise or outsource the business to a third party, who hires illegal workers, said Ramli.

“This is out of our hands,” he said.

The association oversees 900 security companies, 60% of which are in the Klang Valley.

“We have almost 120,000 local guards and about 30,000 Nepalese.”

For the most part, he said security companies follow the SOP, including temperature checks before work, sanitation of living quarters and preventing overcrowding.

Association representatives also visit workers’ quarters to check on occupants and ensure that the employer provides clean and adequate facilities.

“We can say it is quite satisfactory from what we’ve observed.”

Seeking subsidies

Ramli said the government can help security companies under the second CMCO by subsidising the cost of Covid-19 tests.

Guards had already done their Covid-19 tests during the first CMCO and it would help employers defray costs if there was assistance for new tests now, he said.

Selangor and Wilayah Industrial Security Society chief adviser Khirudin Tajudin agrees that the government should subsidise Covid-19 tests for the second CMCO.

“It is a necessary burden, because of the spike in cases, we don’t know who has it and who doesn’t.”

He said guards should be treated as human beings and deserved minimum housing standards.

“You cannot cram them into one place. Don’t wait for the authorities to come and do an inspection then only act on it. This is part of doing the business properly,” said Khirudin.

Interviews with a few foreign security guards around Selangor found most of them without complaints as to their living conditions.

A Nepalese guard, who did not want to be named, said his quarters are not cramped as the employer only allows two people to a unit.

Another Nepalese, who gave his name as Gopal, said there are only four tenants in his quarters.

“We don’t have a problem when It comes to social distancing. It is not congested for us. We are also not allowed to go anywhere by our boss. We are told to remain at our place even on off days due to the virus,” Gopal said.

Another Nepalese guard, Lalit, said his living quarters are also adequate.

“There’s only two of us in our unit and we work different shifts so social distancing is not a problem.” – October 23, 2020.