KUALA LUMPUR, Mar 18 — A Safe@Work initiative to allow the continuity of operations for those in the manufacturing sector affected by Covid-19 infections, by forming a safe work bubble, was announced by Senior Minister of International Trade and Industry Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali today.

The initiative, Azmin said, would allow close contacts of workers who have tested positive to continue working within the premises, provided they remain within the safe work bubble. 

"Current practice sees workers who are identified as close contacts undergo mandatory quarantine and are not allowed to work until all the other close contacts are confirmed free of Covid-19 after being screened. 

"Now, the Safe@Work initiative will allow workers who are close contacts to continue working within the situation created under this new protocol named the Safe Work Bubble,” he said. 

Azmin explained that workers who are identified as close contacts would be separated from the local community and their colleagues until they test negative for Covid-19, therefore not affecting the rest of the staff. 

Companies who are part of the initiative would be given a RM50,000 tax exemption, as those interested can apply online through the Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) beginning April 1, Azmin added. 

The senior minister said the idea behind the initiative came from engagement sessions between Miti, the Malaysian Investment Development Authority and industry players that discussed issues affecting the sector when faced with Covid-19 cases. 

Other factors that prompted the initiative, Azmin said, was how some 194 Covid-19 clusters were detected in the manufacturing sector, causing regular disruptions to operations. 

"The initiative is a show of the government’s commitment towards making sure both the health of workers is ensured, while also focusing efforts to improve and find ways to contribute to the continuity of economic activities,” he said.  

Azmin explained that those looking to be part of the initiative would have to comply with seven requirements, such as form a space allocated to be the "safe work bubble” for them to separate the close contacts from the other worker population. 

"They would also need to form an in-house Covid-19 Emergency Preparedness and Response Team to draft out the steps needed to be taken when faced with emergencies,” he said. 

Other conditions include the regular sanitation of their premises while preparing accommodations with conducive environments to exist within the safe work bubble. 

Azmin said they would also need to conduct targeted screening exercises and ensure that information on new protocols and standard operating procedures under the initiative is channelled efficiently from the employers to employees. 

He added that under the initiative, companies would be allowed to utilise their company vehicles at full capacity.