MEF hails lifting of 30% limit for work from office

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) said  the decision to abolish the ruling that permits only 30% of management staff to work in office in Conditional Movement Control Order areas would accelerate the regeneration of the Malaysian economy as industries would be operating at full capacity.

MEF president Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman said the National Security Council’s decision, which comes into effect today, augurs well with employers as most of them are still struggling to resuscitate their businesses.

“The decision to remove the 30% limitation for management staff to work in office is a positive step and we hope that the situation would soon be able to return to business as usual,” he said in a statement yesterday.

Syed Hussain urged employers to be strictly mindful of the established standard operating procedures (SOPs) to prevent any new Covid-19 workplace cluster and to stop the spread of the virus at the workplace.

“As responsible employers, we must take all the necessary steps to ensure that the workplace environment is free from contamination as this concerns the safety and health of the employees, and not to mention the negative impact to business,” he said

He also said it is in the interest of employers that effective policies and safeguards be put in place, such as the Safe@Work programme that is being implemented by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

“The Safe@Work programme places workers based on the 'Safe Work Bubble' which isolates close contacts among workers at their accommodation, workplace as well as workers’ vehicles.

“Such arrangement would enable the employer to continue operations without serious disruptions and at the same time prevent the formation of new Covid-19 clusters,” the MEF president said.

Noting that Safe@Work is only open to the manufacturing sector and its related services, Syed Hussain called on the government to extend the programme to employers in all sectors of industry.

He also said that although 100% of employees would be allowed to be present at the workplace, employers may consider allowing certain employees to work from home based on the nature and requirements of their job.

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