‘Don’t allow those repeatedly violating Act to hire migrant workers’

KUCHING: Companies that repeatedly violate the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (amended 2019) should not be permitted to employ migrant workers, says the Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC). In a joint statement along with 11 other non-governmental organisations, the coalition called for all public health policies to be inclusive and non-discriminatory to every resident in Malaysia including non-citizens during this Covid-19 pandemic period. “The government must convene the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) and enforce the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (amended 2019) without undue delay. “Immediate mitigation measures must be put in place to ensure that the virus does not spread. “Meanwhile, details of the Act and its implementation guidelines should be disseminated publicly so ordinary citizens can play a role in monitoring the implementation of the Act. Companies that repeatedly violate the Act should not be permitted to employ migrant workers,” the statement said. This was among the three measures called for by the signatories of the joint statement, in which they voiced support for the government’s decision to provide medical treatment and healthcare to the Covid-19 positive cases, which have emerged in immigration detention centres. Other measures are to develop a coherent and comprehensive workforce policy and to improve conditions in detention centres, the statement said. “In the long-term, the government must develop a coherent and comprehensive workforce policy that accounts for our true needs for migrant workers. “This policy must protect the health and safety of all migrant workers in Malaysia, including appropriate and adequate financing for their healthcare. A comprehensive long-term policy will also reduce the trust deficit among non-citizen residents, who may be hesitant to seek required medical attention or healthcare for fear of deportation,” it said, while stressing that policies against illegal migration must remain in place and migration must be controlled. It added that conditions in immigration detention centres must be improved to allow for necessary physical distancing measures, which will help prevent further Covid-19 outbreaks, as well as to ensure the needs of women and children detainees are also looked after. “We need an all-of-society effort to keep the spread of Covid-19 in the country under control. This includes cooperation from all citizens and non-citizen residents of Malaysia. “With more than four months of experience fighting Covid-19 and with an indefinite journey ahead, it is time for inclusive and durable solutions, not reactive and discriminatory ones,” added the statement. Other signatories of the joint statement were the Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC), Tenaganita, Beyond Borders Malaysia, CSO-SDG Alliance, Foreign Spouses Support Group, HungerHurts Malaysia, International Domestic Workers

Federation, North South Initiative (NSI), Our Journey, Pusat Komunikasi Masyarakat (Komas), and Suara Rakyat Malaysia (Suaram).