Ensure Malaysia Foreign Workers Carry Health Card
Besides compelling Malaysia foreign workers to undergo annual medical check-up (fomema), they should also be made to carry a special health card, stating that they had done so.
In proposing this, Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Mohamad Hasan said drastic action must be implemented to combat the spread of communicable diseases effectively.
“The authorities have been fighting hard to eliminate certain contagious diseases for decades but these are now coming back.
“One of the reasons is because we have a high number of foreign workers who come from countries with high prevalence of diseases such as cholera, tuberculosis and malaria,” he said.
Mohamad said several new cases of malaria were reported in Jelebu recently and these could be attributed to the presence of foreign workers there.
He commended the Health Ministry for reintroducing a policy which made it compulsory for foreign workers to undergo annual health checks.
“We are fully supportive of the move and hope it can be implemented quickly,” he said, adding that since all documented foreign workers were already required to carry the I-Kad, information on their health status should also be incorporated into it.
“The holder’s health information can be updated annually in the card as it has high technology features,” he said.
Mohamad said the authorities must take stern action against employers who refused to send their foreign workers for the check-up, including blacklisting them and having their workers deported.
In Ipoh, state executive councillor Datuk Dr Mah Hang Soon said certain industries facing shortage of foreign workers would resort to hiring illegal foreigners.
“These workers not only pose potential health hazard to them (employers) but also to the nation.
“Employers must strive to get workers using the proper channels,” he said.
On the other hand, Assistant Minister of Public Health Datuk Dr Jerip Susil commented Malaysia foreign workers with communicable diseases will be deported.
News source: Thestar