Ensure safety and health of foreign workers and refugees, employers urged

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THE Penang government looks after the health and safety issues of all communities, including migrant workers and refugees, in its fight against Covid-19.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow, in his daily Facebook message, said it is important to ensure the safety of all in Penang following questions raised on the status of the migrant workers and Rohingya refugees in the state.

“Covid-19 virus does not discriminate against race, religion or nationality.

“If we do not ensure the safety and health of the migrant community in our country, then we will not be able to break the chain of the virus outbreak.

“If we can’t break it, then the people of Penang and Malaysia will suffer,” Chow said.

He added that the state government had advised employers such as the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM) Penang branch and the Real Estate and Housing Developers Association (Redha) Penang branch to ensure the safety and welfare of their workers, including the foreign workers.

According to Chow, the FMM Penang branch said they had instructed their workers to adhere strictly to the movement control order (MCO), like ensuring that they obey the social distancing rule and providing the workers with face masks and hand sanitisers.

He said to ensure the workers comply with these rules, enforcement officers from both the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) and the Seberang Perai City Council (MBSP) would regularly monitor the construction sites.

Chow said although employers still pay the foreign workers wages, some small medium enterprises (SMEs) have complained that the extension of the MCO until April 28 has put a heavy financial burden on them.

For the refugee communities, he said the state government has been cooperating with non-government organisations (NGOs) in serving them.

The NGOs include Persatuan Komuniti Berdikari (PKB), Penang Stop Human Trafficking Campaign, Aspire Penang, Malaysian Relief Agency, Doctors Without Borders, Caremongers Penang, Penang Working Group and others.

Chow, in fact, said he had approved an allocation to PKB to help the refugee community last week.

Other needy communities in the state are also taken care of, especially those who have registered with the Social Welfare Department and the Equitable Economic Agenda (AES) and residents of the People’s Housing Project (PPR).

Chow said the distribution of groceries had begun in the southwest district yesterday and would continue to other districts in stages. A total of 20,000 boxes of provisions would be distributed in the five districts.

There are five main centres for the collection and distribution of foodstuff prepared by the state government through Mutiara Food Bank.

They are Kompleks Masyarakat Penyayang for the north east district; Dewan Kompleks Pasar Awam Balik Pulau for the southwest district; Pejabat Persatuan Bomba dan Sukarela Raja Uda for north Seberang Perai; Dewan JKR Taman Bukit Kecil, Bukit Mertajam for central Seberang Perai and Dewan MPKK Bukit Panchor, Nibong Tebal for south Seberang Perai.

On another matter, Chow called on the authorities to look into weak internet connection in Green Garden, Paya Terubong which had affected the online learning of a university student.

“While this may seem a small matter for some, I feel that internet connectivity is important during this MCO and this must be given special attention,” he said.

Chow also said the International Trade and Industry Ministry website was also not accessible this morning and he hoped this issue would be resolved quickly.

Story by K.H. Ong
Pix & Video by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi