KOTA KINABALU: The newly-released standard operating procedures (SOPs) allowing only fully vaccinated employees to work came as a surprise for many.
Sabah Employers Association president Yap Cheen Boon said such SOPs might end up being unproductive especially the ones where only vaccinated patrons were allowed to enter supermarkets or eateries.
"This exposes the dichotomy facing the current battle against Covid infections: without immersive engagements with private sectors as health-centric policy measures will result in economic collateral damages.
"The state's adult full vaccination rate currently stands at 20 per cent. Hence with a stroke of a pen, only 20 per cent of supermarket outlets and eateries will have the approvals to open, and in turn, receive up to 20 per cent of customers at any time.
"Businesses cannot compel, nor force employees to be vaccinated. As such businesses without fully vaccinated staff will be paying the price for actions beyond their control," he said in a statement.
Yap said it was an uphill battle for the state government to tackle both rising infections and a sinking economy.
"However, It is not a singular struggle with only a medical viewpoint and putting aside economics.
"The battle can be, and should be fought hand in hand together, by engaging with private sectors and seeking feedback, comments, commitment from businesses to not just follow SOPs, as well to serve as implementation agents."
He added that if there were engagements with private sectors, the latter could propose complementary measures to minimise the economic impact on now the worst-performing state in the country.
Yap said businesses without fully vaccinated employees should be allowed to operate, with weekly screening tests conducted on employees paid for by businesses and submitted to the Health Ministry for monitoring.