Malaysia allocates RM$7 million to accelerate COVID-19 screening for foreign workers

The Malaysian government will set aside RM7 million (US$1.72 million) to help small and medium construction firms speed up COVID-19 screening for their foreign workers. 

Through the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), a subsidy of RM50 (US$12.27) will be given to every foreign construction personnel with a valid registration with the CIDB. The screening tests will be managed by CIDB Holdings, through a list of panel clinics. 

“The actual cost set is RM100 (US$24.55) for the registered foreign construction workers with RM50 borne by CIDB, while the unregistered ones have to pay the full charge of RM100,” said Senior Minister (Works) Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof at a press conference.

The minister also noted that although the Social Security Organisation (Socso) had already been conducting COVID-19 screening for foreign workers, developers needed to pay for the costs first, which smaller firms could not afford.

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“The construction sector is active again but at the same time, the challenge is ensuring adherence to the standard operating procedure, as this sector is the second biggest contributor of COVID-19 positive cases,” he noted, adding that “COVID-19 screening is crucial for foreign workers to reduce the risk of the viral infection at the construction sites”.