MTUC: Govt’s move to relax MCO too soon could worsen pandemic
KUALA LUMPUR: The government’s move to relax restrictions under the Movement Control Order (MCO) can cause the Covid-19 pandemic to worsen and put workers’ lives at risk.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) said Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin’s announcement of the Conditional MCO (CMCO), which will see most businesses reopening from tomorrow onwards, came “too fast, too soon”.
MTUC secretary-general J. Solomon yesterday urged Muhyiddin to delay the implementation of the CMCO to allow more time for employers, workers and consumers to adjust and live under the new normal.
“It will take more than three days. To make it work, the government’s machinery must be visible on the ground to help everyone make a smooth transition to the new normal so that the economic recovery can be sustained and shielded from a fresh wave of Covid-19 cases.
“The announcement came as a shock to us. The government is doing too much to revive the economy, given that the danger from the pandemic remains very real in Malaysia.”
Solomon said the announcement was made despite figures showing that since April 25, more than half of the 380 new Covid-19 cases were local or community transmissions.
A total of 248, or 65.3 per cent of cases were community transmissions, compared with 132 imported cases (34.7 per cent).
He said the statistics showed that a new wave of Covid-19 outbreak remained a possibility in the country and the number of hot spots across Malaysia was high.
These figures, he said, should have been sufficient for the government to see through the completion of the fourth phase of the MCO, which was scheduled to end on May 12, before considering the possibility of easing the restrictions.
Solomon cited developments in Japan, Singapore, Germany and Canada as examples to show how the situation could change dramatically if restrictions were lifted too soon.
“MTUC is worried that the government is acting hastily in doing away with the MCO curbs in the name of saving the country from further economic damage.
“No one wants to return to work more than the 15 million workers in the country. But has the government ensured that employers will put in place safeguards for workers?
“Is there enough enforcement to ensure employers comply with the SOP (standard operating procedure) drawn up by the Health Ministry?
“Are these health screenings taking place?”
These, Solomon said, were important issues that needed to be addressed before companies were given the green light to resume operations.
He said the public and businesses should first be provided with information as well as clarification on the SOP.
Local authorities, health officers and those from the relevant ministries, he said, should ensure the SOP was complied with before giving approval to these entities to operate.
This, he said, would instil public confidence and ensure that businesses sustained their operations by maintaining the highest healthcare standards.
“Another point to consider is the possibility of enforcement teams indulging in corrupt activities.”
If this was allowed to happen, he said, it might cause a second or third wave of Covid-19 cases.
MTUC urged the government not to ignore the health and safety of local and foreign workers as feedback gained showed that many employers who were earlier allowed to operate had ignored safety measures, such as providing workers with face masks, hand sanitiser and practising social distancing.
“The squalid and cramped living conditions of many of the workers are a major cause of concern.”
He said businesses need not worry about losing their income as once the MCO was lifted, people would rush to buy items that they lacked in huge quantities, hence business operators would regain their lost profit within a short time.