MEF wants Safe@Work programme to be extended
KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) hopes the Safe@Work programme implemented by the International Trade and Industry Ministry will be extended to employers in all sectors of industry.
At present, the voluntary programme was open only to the manufacturing sector and its related services, president Datuk Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman said in a statement yesterday.
The Safe@Work initiative, which is part of the Strategic Programme to Empower the People and Economy (Pemerkasa), enables participating employers to receive an additional tax deduction of up to R M 5 0,0 0 0 for rental exp ens e s incurred on premises and hostels provided as living accommodation for employees.
Syed Hussain said the Safe@Work programme would enable employers to continue operations without serious disruptions and, at the same time, prevent the formation of new Covid-19 clusters.
“The voluntary programme placed workers based on the ‘safe work bubble’, which isolated close contacts among workers at their accommodation, workplace as well as workers’ vehicles.”
He said although the government had decided to allow 100 per cent of employees to be present at the workplace beginning April 1, employers might consider allowing certain employees to work from home based on the requirement of their jobs.
Meanwhile, Syed Hussain welcomed the government’s decision to abolish the ruling on the 30 per cent of management staff working in Conditional Movement Control Order areas as this would help struggling employers resuscitate their businesses.
He also urged employers to strictly adhere to the standard operating procedures to prevent the spread of Covid-19.