Malaysia imposes mandatory Covid-19 screening for foreign workers

Malaysia has imposed mandatory COVID-19 screening for 1.7 million foreign workers residing in the country in view of the high number of cases among the group. 

From December 1, the Human Resources Ministry will carry out targeted COVID-19 screening for foreign workers in zones with a high occurrence of cases. This would start with foreign workers in Klang, Selangor; and Seremban, Negeri Sembilan. Screening for other zones in Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Penang will start on December 9. 

The screening would be carried out by the Social Security Organisation (Socso), in collaboration with private clinics and hospitals. “The screening will use the Rapid Test Kit Antigen approved by the Health Ministry and the cost will be borne by Socso,” said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.

‘“Employers only need to pay the service charge imposed by clinics or hospitals. For foreign workers who are not Socso contributors, the screening fee must be fully paid by their employers,”  the minister added. 

READ: Malaysia to improve foreign worker recruitment policies

Effective Nov 26, the government has also started imposing a fine of RM50,000 (US$12,261) per worker if employers house their foreign staff in crowded spaces.

So far, Top Glove has been the single largest contributor to Malaysia’s COVID-19 cases, accounting for 1,511 cases of the total 2,188 recorded nationwide in a day. The world’s biggest maker of rubber gloves runs 47 plants in Malaysia, Thailand, China and Vietnam.