Safe@Work Initiative Allows Manufacturers to Continue Operations

Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali had announced an initiative that will allow operation continuity for manufacturing companies affected by COVID-19 infections. The initiative, known as Safe@Work, will form a safe work bubble for the infected workers.

The minister said that the initiative would allow close contacts of employees who have tested positive for COVID-19 to work within the premises, as long as they stay within the safe work bubble.

According to Azmin, current safety practice sees workers identified as close contacts undergo compulsory quarantine. They cannot work until every other close contact is proved free of COVID-19 after being screened.

He explained that the Safe@Work initiative would enable workers who are close contacts to proceed to work within the situation initiated under a new protocol called the Safe Work Bubble.

Workers who are detected as close contacts would be isolated from the local community and their coworkers until they test negative for COVID-19, therefore not affecting the rest of the workforce.

The initiative would allow manufacturers to continue operations despite COVID-19 cases.

Azmin added that organisations that are part of the initiative would be provided with an RM50,000 tax exemption. Those interested can apply online through the COVID-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) starting April 1, 2021.

He said that the idea for the initiative came from engagement sessions between the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI), The Malaysian Investment Development Authority and industry leaders that discussed matters affecting the sector when faced with the COVID-19 cases.

According to him, other factors inspired the initiative, such as how 194 COVID-19 clusters were identified in the manufacturing sector, which caused regular interruptions to operations.

The minister said that the initiative is proof of the government's commitment towards making sure the workers' health is ensured while also concentrating on efforts to improve and find ways to contribute to the economic activities' continuity.

He explained that those who want to be part of the initiative would have to agree with seven requirements, such as:

Form a space allocated to be the "safe work bubble" to separate the close contacts from the other worker population.
Form an in-house COVID-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Team to plan the steps to manage emergencies.
Regular sanitation of the premises while providing accommodations with conducive environments to exist inside the safe work bubble.
Conduct targeted screening exercises.
Ensure that information on new protocols and standard operating procedures under the Safe@Work initiative is channelled efficiently from employers to employees.

Azmin also said that under the Safe@Work initiative, companies would be permitted to use their company vehicles at total capacity.

Safe@Work Initiative

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin first announced the Safe@Work initiative during the launching of the Strategic Programme to Empower the People and Economy (PEMERKASA) on March 17.

Under the Strict and Transparent Legislative Enforcement initiative, he announced that MITI would implement the Safe@Work programme in which the employer is responsible for preparing conducive workplaces and accommodation for employees.

Companies that are registered with MITI for the programme will be able to operate in situations where employees who are in close contact are isolated from the local community and other employees.

They will be placed in a "safe work bubble" until every other close contact employee is confirmed negative COVID-19.

Source: MalayMail

NEW and latest Covid-19 SOPs, info and guidelines from the Government >> DOWNLOAD HERE

Articles that might interest you

MEF Says It Is Within the Employee's Right to Decline Vaccine
Can Employers Order Employees to be Vaccinated?
Employers Who Fail to Vaccinate Foreign Workers Will Be Jailed