Effective 18th March 2020, Malaysia will be on a two-week lockdown, announced the country’s newly instated Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. After witnessing a spike in infected cases (553 infected at the present, of which 511 have been hospitalized), the decision had to be made. This is the highest number in SEA so far. Announcing the decision, PM Muhyiddin shared, “The current situation of the outbreak requires drastic measures to be taken to recover (from) the situation as soon as possible.” Assuring Malaysians of there being enough grocery supplies and daily necessities for the population, he added, “this move is necessary to prevent the spread of COVID-19 which could claim the lives of Malaysians, as it has (of) thousands of people in other countries.”

To extend financial support to workers who have been asked to go on a no-pay leave, effective March 1st, the government will be offering RM600 monthly, for a period of six months. Applicable to workers earning less than RM4,000 every month, this initiative is expected to help nearly 33,000 employees. For businesses that have been impacted by COVID-19, especially in the tourism sector, the government has also announced a 15% discount on electricity, for a period of six months, until September 30th. 

The Human Resources Ministry has advised employers and workers to apply sections of the Employment Act 1955 under the present circumstances, namely Section 60E (1B) and Section 60F. “For workers who are given a quarantine order beyond the sick leave or hospitalization eligibility period, employers are encouraged to provide additional remuneration to workers for the purpose of maintaining harmonious relations between the employee and the employer,” said the Ministry in a statement.

With regards to Malaysians who are working across SEA, the Human Resources Ministry advises employers “to assess their manpower needs carefully and make a considered decision as to whether they need their affected workers to remain in Singapore. In providing assistance, we will prioritize the needs of firms that provide essential services such as healthcare, security, cleaning, waste management, facilities management, logistics and transport.”

While perception of the threat and intensity of the pandemic varies by geographies, it is picking up and levelling across regions. A majority of the population has gone into a state of panic, some over wiped off supplies and necessities and some over business continuity. At such times, by acknowledging the state of affairs and reassuring citizens, Governments can bring the panic down a notch, while actively implementing measures to address the burning needs across the nation - namely healthcare, supplies, employee welfare, business sustainability, and the overall peace.

Image source: Hype MY