Ismail Sabri: Public And Private Sector Workers In CMCO Areas Must Work From Home
About one million people are ordered to work from home in order to reduce movement between districts.
By Arisha Rozaidee — 20 Oct 2020, 05:13 PM — Updated about 4 years ago
Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob just announced that workers in the public and private sectors, involving management and supervisory levels within the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) areas, must work from home
The decision was announced during a press conference today, 20 October.
He said, "We have been informed that there are nine clusters from workplaces in Selangor. This is because we see workers from red zones who are forced to show up to work. Therefore, we have decided today that workers in the public and private sectors, involving management and supervisory levels, are not required to work from the office and may work from home."
"I am not requesting, I am ordering employers to allow their staff to work from home," he added.
The minister said that this will affect roughly one million employees throughout areas under the CMCO
He assured that the government's decision will break the chain of infection and reduce the movement of employees who are forced to come in for work, as factories and retail outlets are open as usual.
"We received complaints from people saying there is a lack of control as people continue to go to work. Therefore, we have decided today to break the COVID-19 chain of infection within these CMCO areas. We must lessen the movement of workers," he said.
However, some people will still be allowed to work from the office.
For example, people working in the finance departments of their companies.
Ismail Sabri said that the Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI) will issue a statement on which industries are affected by the order soon.
Meanwhile, he also stressed that those working from the office must undergo a swab test.
The Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) will cover the cost of swab tests for both Malaysian and foreign workers. Therefore, it should be free for those involved.
The order will come into effect starting Thursday, 22 October
It will end at the same time as CMCO in respective areas. The minister said that if the CMCO is extended, then the extension will also apply to the work from home order.
