KUALA LUMPUR: Migrant workers can ill afford their salary to be deducted to conduct the Covid-19 health screening test.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said the proposal that employers impose salary deductions to pay for Covid-19 screenings of foreign workers who do not contribute to Socso is inhumane and inconsiderate.
"Foreign workers, especially those without permits, are already underpaid and can hardly make ends meet," said congress secretary-general J. Solomon.
He said Senior Minister (Security Cluster) Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob's proposal would inflict further blow to their livelihood and once again, allow employers to shirk their responsibility,
He said that the government now sees foreign workers as a high-risk group for Covid-19, without acknowledging they are also the poorest segment of our community who can ill afford even a RM50 monthly deduction in salary. Thousands of them earn well below the RM1,200 minimum wage set by the previous government.
Solomon said Ismail's proposal on the matter was an abrupt U-turn from his earlier announcement that employers would bear the cost of Covid-19 screenings for foreign workers.
"Clearly, his latest announcement is another example of how quick the government is acceding to the demands of employers who had warned that they will not pay for the Covid-19 screenings for their workers," he said in a statement here today.
Soloman said that in the lead up to the U-turn, Ismail had also said that Socso would pay for the Covid-19 screenings of local workers and migrant employees who contribute to the fund.
He said MTUC's warning that the use of Socso's already depleted coffers would be further strained if it was to pay for the workers Covid-19 checks, has been totally ignored by the government.
"To date, there has been no information on how much Socso is paying for the tests to ascertain if the rates are competitive," he said.
Solomon said that bearing in mind that around seven million workers have Socso coverage, the final bill for Covid 19 screening for Socso members would run into tens, if not, hundreds of million of ringgit.
"Socso will have to fork out this money at a time when it is still reeling from a slew of bad investments made over the years," he said.
He said an equally important fact was that Socso contributions were meant for the injured or sick workers and their families in times of need, and should not be used to pay for Covid-19 screening of employees.
Solomon said MTUC had emphasised this fact many times to the government but to no avail. The onus to provide the funds for Covid-19 screenings was clearly the responsibility of employers and the government, not poorly paid workers.
To add further insult to injury, not only are Socso contributors being forced to use their savings to pay for Covid-19 screening, but those not covered by the fund, will now be required to do the same through salary deductions, if the government's proposal is taken-up.
Solomon said when employers choose to recruit migrant workers, they undertake the responsibility for their accommodation, wages and healthcare costs.
"They should not shirk their responsibilities when it comes to Covid-19 tests, and instead expect workers to bear those costs. During better times, employers have benefitted from the blood, sweat and tears of these workers.Therefore, they should not victimise these very same workers who are now even worse off due to the pandemic.
"Continuous taxing of poor marginalised workers and at the same time allowing employers to get away scot free from their responsibility appears to be the bulwark of this government's measures in dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic," Solomon said.
He said that the government should underwrite the Covid-19 tests for foreign workers which is vital for Malaysia to avoid a spike in infections similar to Singapore.
This would be inline with Singapore government's move which sees the city-state paying for migrants Covid-19 tests.
Further the republic does not use workers provident funds to underwrite it.
"MTUC strongly urges the government to stop the persecution of the working class in Malaysia, irrespective of whether they are local or migrant workers. Stop abusing or cashing in on their hard earned savings, be it in Socso or EPF, merely to pander to the selfish needs of unscrupulous employers and certain politicians," Solomon said.
He said the actions by the authorities were also against International Labour Organisation (ILO) norms, which states that Covid-19 could be classified as occupational disease.
He said as such, employers have the overall responsibility of ensuring that all practicable preventive and protective measures are taken to minimize occupational risks (Occupational Safety and Health Convention, 1981 (No. 155).
Solomon also said that Employment and Decent Work for Peace and Resilience Recommendation, 2017 (No. 205) calls on the authorities to ensure effective access to essential health care and other basic social services, in particular for population groups and individuals who have been made particularly vulnerable by the crisis. Vulnerable groups in particular include migrant workers regardless of their status as documented or not documented.
ILO further states that pursuant to the Migration for Employment Convention (Revised), 1949 (No. 97), governments shall maintain appropriate medical services for migrant workers. These services are responsible for conducting medical testing, for example for Covid-19, he said.
In light of all this, Solomon said it was clear that the government was committing grave injustice if it continues to use Socso funds or allow employers to deduct workers salary for Covid-19 tests.