KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 19 (Sin Chew Daily) – The works ministry will hold talks with the construction sector to explore the possibility of conducting preventive COVID-19 screening on foreign workers every two weeks like in neighboring Singapore, says minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.

"We will discuss in the meetings. Once this is implemented, it will enhance the safety at construction sites as the Social Security Organization (SOCSO) is sharing the screening cost," he said.

While the proposed measure will invariably lead to higher cost, the developers and contractors will face higher risks and incur greater losses, he added.

"Construction sites will be ordered to close for two weeks once confirmed COVID-19 cases are detected. This will increase the cost too. The Works Ministry is working closely with the human resources ministry to explore the possibility for the government to shoulder part of the screening cost and not for the developers to foot the entire bill," he said.

Apart from meeting the stakeholders such as developers and contractors in the construction sector, representatives from the housing and local government ministry and local authorities will also be invited to join the meetings.

"In Singapore, all foreign workers are screened every two weeks. We are exploring whether such a measure is feasible here," he said.

The proposed dialogue will also compile feedback from the stakeholders to improve the standard operating procedures (SOPs) applied in the construction sector, especially construction sites with foreign workers.

On the issue of more confirmed cases as new clusters are being detected at construction sites across Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, Fadillah reminded all employers and workers at construction sites to strictly comply with the SOPs set by the government.

"We are seeking solutions on the increasing number of confirmed COVID-19 cases detected at construction sites," he said.

The police, Construction Industry Development Board and Department of Occupational Safety and Health will continue to monitor and inspect construction sits to ensure all workers comply with the SOPs, he added.

Fadillah was glad that major construction firms have adopted the necessary measures by sending affected foreign workers to undergo quarantine at designated hotels.

On social media claims that foreign workers with pink wristbands are found at construction sites and many confirmed cases are detected at these sites, Fadillah said, "Those workers are not allowed to leave the construction sites. There are police at construction sites to ensure that foreign workers with pink wristbands remain at the sites."

He said these foreign workers were under observation screening and the risk of infecting COVID-19 was relatively low as they were not allowed to leave the construction sites.

Although investigations show such foreign workers are at a lower risk compared to those who have close contact with infected COVID-19 patients, they are still not allowed to leave their construction sites.