PUTRAJAYA will take legal action against employers who fail to send their foreign workers for Covid-19 screening, said Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob. 

He said the Human Resources Ministry had informed the National Security Council that many employers have yet to send their foreign workers for the tests. 

“Starting January 1, Putrajaya will be taking stern action against the employers.  

“There will be legal action and compounds issued to employers if they fail to abide by the directive,” he said at a press conference in Putrajaya today.  

As of December 1, the government had instructed foreign workers in construction, factories, commercial centres and other fields to go for mandatory Covid-19 screenings and the cost to be borne by employers.  

Ismail Sabri said according to the Human Resources Ministry, 42,248 foreign workers from 1,990 employers have been screened to date.

He said the mass screenings of foreign workers involve six states and territories that are Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, Negri Sembilan, Sabah and Labuan. 

Ismail Sabri also said the government is taking legal action against employers who fail to provide conducive accommodation for their foreign workers.

“To date, 12 companies have been charged with 27 offences. 

“The authorities will continue to take action on the screenings and lack of proper accommodation for foreign workers.

He also said that the National Disaster Management Agency has agreed that employers must bear the cost of foreign workers who have tested positive for the virus. 

“They will have to bear the cost of the foreign workers who have to be quarantined.” – December 24, 2020.