SOME 127,000 foreign workers from various sectors in Penang are now undergoing the Covid-19 screening tests.
State Housing, Local Government, Country and Town Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said that this was in line with Putrajaya’s announcement to carry out screening tests for nearly one million foreign workers in the country, beginning Dec 1.
Jagdeep said Penang was the first state to conduct Covid-19 screening tests for foreign workers from the construction sector back in April this year.
“The Penang government is now monitoring the screening processes carried out by the foreign workers’ respective employers.
“I don’t have the actual number but based on the reports that we (state) received, the tests that are being carried out are almost done.
“Apart from that, the screenings that involved about 3,000 foreign workers in one of the dormitories in the state are good,” he told a press conference at City Hall at the Esplanade, today.
Jagdeep proposed Putrajaya to fully fund the Covid-19 screening costs through an additional allocation.
“The economy is impacted by the pandemic and various sectors are affected. Yet, the employers have to bear the cost of the Covid-19 tests for their workers.
In a related development, Jagdeep told reporters that the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) had conducted 473,700 inspections and the overall compliance rate was 99.7%; while the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) had carried out 693,046 inspections and the compliance rate was 99.37%.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the staff and frontliners.
“I want to remind the people to abide by the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and stay safe,” he said.
Story by Edmund Lee
Pix by Law Suun Ting