IT is the lack of foreign workers and not the mandatory Covid-19 testing that is hampering work on projects in the country, said local construction companies and developers.

The cost of conducting the swab tests on insured foreign workers is taken care of by the Social Security Organisation (Socso), while the cost for uninsured workers is borne by employers, they told The Malaysian Insight.

The Works Ministry, in a FAQ guide on October 28, said all foreign construction workers in conditional movement-control order (CMCO) areas, not only those in red zones, must take the Covid-19 swab test.

To curb the growing number of cases, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya went into CMCO at midnight on October 14. This was supposed to end on October 27 but has now been extended to November 9.

Most economic sectors, including the construction and manufacturing industries, are allowed to operate but with strict adherence to the standard operating procedure (SOP). Among them is foreign workers to undergo the Covid-19 test.

Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) president Foo Chek Lee said most construction projects are gradually picking up speed.

“Appeals for extension of project deadlines have been made and construction sites are operating, as usual, to catch up with lost time.

“The only limitation is the shortage of foreign labour,” Foo said.

Putrajaya has frozen the hiring of foreign workers until year-end. The government is expected to consider allowing the construction, agriculture and plantation sectors to hire foreign workers next year.

Foo said the additional cost for the tests is no pressure, adding that after construction companies are given consent to resume work, all foreign workers who have completed the Covid-19 testing are placed in dormitories.

Adherence to SOP

Some companies have barred visitors at construction sites, fearing the spread of the virus, which could affect the progress of the projects.

“As far as I know, no foreign workers have been diagnosed with Covid-19 at construction sites in the Klang Valley.

“The construction sites strictly adhere to the SOP and take the temperature of employees daily.

“Once someone has a fever, he is not allowed to go into the construction site,” Foo said.

Foreign construction workers looking for other jobs are not allowed to work at construction sites, he said.

“Once they change their work description, they become illegal foreign workers.

“Many legal foreign workers returned to their respective countries before the movement-control order (MCO) in March and now they cannot return as the borders are closed,” Foo said.

Malaysian Real Estate and Housing Developers’ Association (Rehda) Selangor branch chairman Ho Hon Sang said workers can continue on projects while waiting for their Covid-19 test results.

“Construction can proceed as normal. Hence, any delay can be mitigated,” said Ho, adding that no foreign workers at construction sites in Selangor have tested positive.

The former chairman of the Rehda Selangor branch Zulkifly Garib agrees that project timelines will not be impacted as long as they continue.

In the Works Ministry’s FAQ, it is also stated that foreign construction workers who have not developed Covid-19 symptoms can continue to work while waiting for test results. As for local workers and foreign workers with symptoms, they can only return to work after they have been cleared of the virus. – November 2, 2020.