Tuesday, April 07, 2020

SOCSO(but not yet Minister Saravanan) recognizes Covid-19 as occupational disease, after 55 groups called for it?

The now 55 groups Joint Statement(see below for English and Malay versions) has received a response from Malaysia's Social Security Organisation(SOCSO/PERKESO), which recognizes Covid-19 as an occupational disease but this is still not good enough as many workers, including migrant workers and domestic workers, are NOT covered by this scheme. SOCSO deals with compensations, pensions schemes, etc after the worker is killed or disabled.

What we need is for the Employer to clearly be made liable for the protection of the health of their workers (employees or non-employees), and their failure to do so should attract criminal liability in the event of death/injury, as well as civil liability.

The Human Resource Minister Saravanan Murugan has yet to make any public response - which will also mean a commitment to ensure that ALL workers are protected, and an assurance that all other relevant laws that will clearly impose on employers the obligation to protect workers from Covid-19 or any other infectious disease not just at the workplace, but also in accomodations provided by the employer and or its 'supply chain'. Many employers, being owner/operators of workplace, have now no 'employment relationship' with their workers by reason of the 'contractor for labour' system and other means employed to avoid employer relationship, and thus obligations to workers including occupational safe and health obligations... 

COVID-19 recognised as an occupational disease under Malaysian law

Malaysia’s Social Security Organization (SOCSO) has clarified that COVID-19 is considered an occupational disease under Malaysian law.

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Media Statement – 2/4/2020(Updated)


Make COVID-19 an Occupational Disease under Law to ensure social protection for all workers and their families


We, the 55 undersigned groups, organizations and trade unions, in response to the advent of Covid-19, an infectious disease that can easily be transmitted to other human persons, including workers, urge that the Malaysian government immediately recognize and make Covid-19 an occupational disease. 


By so doing, workers who are infected by Covid-19 at their workplace, even during this period, will become entitled to social protection accorded by social security schemes and laws. 


For those who die, by reason of getting infected by Covid-19 at the workplace, will also be easily entitled to compensations, and their spouses/children/elderly parents will also become entitled to survivor benefits including pensions.


Employers have a duty in law to ensure a safe working environment, and will also now be required to ensure that the workplace is safe from Covid-19 and/or any other dangerous communicable diseases, especially those can result in death or other permanent disabilities.


With the movement control order in place, which still requires workplaces that provide for essential services to operate, workers traveling to and from work, and at these workplace are everyday at risk of being infected by the Covid-19 virus, which to date has also resulted in many deaths worldwide, and as such workers need protection, and this can be done by specifically classifying Covid-19 as an occupational disease.


Now, recently even workers in charge of Human Resources, are required to travel and return to their workplaces for the purposes of arranging the monthly payment of salaries to workers.


Workers who are also needed (or forced) to stay in particular accommodation by employers, should also be covered. This also ought to be considered an ‘occupational disease’, and be accorded all the needed social protection.


While the Covid-19 pandemic highlights the inadequacies in occupational safety and health laws, and also social security laws for workers, it is time to remedy these failings.


One must note, that in the past, there has also been allegations of some workers forced to house together or work together has ended up contracting life threatening ailments like tuberculosis from other workers they are made to stay and/or work with.


All such ailments, not just Covid-19, which can cause death or other disabilities that may impact these workers future employment and income, ought to be specifically classified as occupational diseases, and workers should be accorded all benefits under social protection laws.


These laws should apply to all workers, including migrant workers and domestic workers.


In Malaysia, local workers are generally covered by the Employees' Social Security Act 1969, which provides better protection to workers and/or their families compared to the Workmen’s Compensation Act 1952 that generally covered migrant workers. There must be equal protection for all workers, even domestic workers.


For now, The Human Resource Minister, can use the powers conferred by subsection 32(2) of the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994 [Act 514], and declares that Covid-19 be recognized as an occupational diseases. Other changes and/or amendments to law to ensure equal protection to all workers may require Parliament.


Therefore, we 


-          Call on Malaysia to  immediately make Covid-19 an occupational disease, especially if it is contracted at the workplace, on journey to and from work, and in worker accommodations provided by the employer;



-          Call on Malaysia to amend all relevant worker social security law, to ensure appropriate just remedy to workers, their families and/or dependents especially in the event of death, or disability impacting future capacity to work and/or earn an income;



-          Call on Malaysia to ensure that employers are legally bound to provide a safe working environment, including safety from infection from human to human contact at the workplace for diseases like Covid-19,



-          Call on Malaysia and all employers to ensure that occupational safety and health of all workers are always prioritized and protected.    



Charles Hector

Apolinar Tolentino 



For and on behalf of the following 55 groups



WH4C(Workers Hub For Change)

Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC)

Clean Clothes Campaign Network (CCC)

Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) Asia Pacific Region

Labour Behind the Label, United Kingdom

Odhikar, Bangladesh

National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAW), Malaysia

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)

Timber Industry Employee Union Sarawak (TIEUS)

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

North South Initiative(NSI)

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan, Semenanjung Malaysia (KSIEWSSM)

Sarawak Banking Employees Union

MTUC Sarawak (Malaysian Trade Union Congress – Sarawak)

Malayan Technical Services Union           

Timber Employees Union of Peninsula Malaysia

Malay Forest Officers Union      

PKNS Union       

Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM)

Legal Action for Women, United Kingdom

Global Womens Strike, United Kingdom

Malaysian Automotive Industry Workers Union Federation

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

National Union of Banking Employees(NUBE)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor                       

Single Mothers’ Self-Defence, United Kingdom

Association of Human Rights and Defenders and Promoters- HRDP(Myanmar)

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India

MARUAH, Singapore

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

Legal Awareness Watch (LAW), Pakistan

Asociación de Trabajadoras del Hogar a Domicilio y de Maquila–Atrahdom, Guatemala

Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI), India

Marvi Rural Development Organization (MRDO), Pakistan

Onward Consulting, Malaysia    

Women of Colour Global Women Strike, United Kingdom

Payday, United Kingdom

Women Against Rape (UK)

Bangladesh Group Netherlands

International  Black Women for Wages for Housework

International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, UK

Asosasyon ng mga Makabayang Manggagawang Pilipino Overseas in Malaysia (AMMPO-SENTRO)

European Rohingya Council

WinVisible (women with visible & invisible disabilities)

Campaign Abiti Puliti (Italian CCC)

Collectif Ethique sur l'étiquette (France)

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia(NAMM)

Gender Alliance for Development Center, Albania

Sudwind, Austria

Radanar Ayar Association, Myanmar

Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)

Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO)

GoodElectronics Network

Tenaganita, Malaysia



Kenyataan Media – 2/4/2020(Terjemahan Bahasa Melayu)


Jadikan COVID-19 Penyakit Pekerjaan di bawah Undang-undang untuk memastikan perlindungan sosial untuk semua pekerja dan keluarga mereka


Kami, 55 kumpulan, organisasi dan kesatuan sekerja yang disenaraikan di bawah ini, sebagai respon kepada hakikat kini dengan kemunculan penyakit Covid-19, penyakit berjangkit yang mudah menjangkiti orang lain, termasuk pekerja, mendesak agar kerajaan Malaysia segera mengiktiraf dan menjadikan Covid-19 satu penyakit pekerjaan.


Dengan berbuat demikian, pekerja yang dijangkiti oleh Covid-19 di tempat kerja mereka, termasuk tempoh ini, akan berhak kepada perlindungan sosial yang diberikan oleh skim keselamatan sosial dan undang-undang.


Bagi mereka yang mati, akibat jangkitan Covid-19 di tempat kerja, juga akan mendapat pampasan dengan mudah, dan pasangan/anak/saudara tua mereka juga berhak mendapat faedah yang selamat termasuk pencen waris.


Majikan mempunyai kewajipan dalam undang-undang untuk memastikan persekitaran kerja selamat, dan kini juga diperlukan untuk memastikan bahawa tempat kerja selamat dari Covid-19 dan/atau mana-mana penyakit berjangkit berbahaya yang lain, terutama yang boleh mengakibatkan kematian atau beranika ketidakupayaan kekal yang lain.


Walaupun wujud perintah kawalan pergerakan pada masa ini, tempat kerja yang menyediakan perkhidmatan penting(essential) terus beroperasi, di mana pekerja yang melakukan perjalanan pergi balik tempat kerja, dan bekerja di tempat kerja ini setiap hari menghadapi risiko dijangkiti virus Covid-19, yang setakat ini juga telah mengakibatkan banyak kematian di seluruh dunia. Justeru, pekerja memerlukan perlindungan, dan ini boleh dilakukan dengan mengklasifikasikan Covid-19 sebagai penyakit pekerjaan.


Kini, pekerja yang bertanggungjawab menyediakan pembayaran gaji juga dikehendaki melakukan perjalanan pergi balik ke tempat kerja mereka untuk tujuan mengatur gaji bulanan pekerja.


Pekerja yang juga diperlukan (atau dipaksa) tinggal di tempat tertentu oleh majikan, juga harus dilindungi. Jika, pekerja di tempat tinggal sebegini manjadi mangsa Covid-19, Ini juga harus dianggap sebagai 'penyakit pekerjaan', dan diberikan semua perlindungan sosial yang diperlukan.


Kini pandemik Covid-19 menonjolkan kekurangan dalam undang-undang keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan, termasuk undang-undang keselamatan sosial untuk pekerja. Masa  sudah tiba masa untuk mengatasi segala kekurangan atau kegagalan ini.


Harus diketahui, dahulu ada juga dakwaaan pekerja yang dipaksa tinggal  bersama atau bekerja bersama ada dijangkiti penyakit serius yang boleh mengakibatkan kematian atau menjejaskan kehidupan seperti tuberkulosis dari pekerja lain di tempat tinggal pekerja dan/atau di tempat kerja.


Kesemua penyakit seperti ini, bukan sekadar Covid-19 saja, boleh menyebabkan kematian atau kecacatan lain yang boleh memberi kesan kepada pekerja dari segi  pekerjaan dan/atau pendapatan masa depan, harus diklasifikasikan secara khusus sebagai penyakit pekerjaan, dan pekerja harus diberikan semua manfaat di bawah undang-undang perlindungan sosial.


Undang-undang ini perlu diguna pakai untuk semua pekerja, termasuk pekerja migran(asing) dan pekerja domestik.


Di Malaysia, pekerja tempatan umumnya dilindungi oleh Akta Keselamatan Sosial Pekerja 1969, yang memberikan perlindungan yang lebih baik kepada pekerja dan/atau keluarga mereka berbanding dengan Akta Pampasan Pekerja 1952 yang biasanya dipakai untuk pekerja asing. Perlindungan mestilah sama rata bagi semua pekerja, termasuk pekerja domestik.


Buat masa ini, Menteri Sumber Manusia, boleh menggunakan kuasa yang diberikan oleh subseksyen 32(2) Akta Keselamatan dan Kesihatan Pekerjaan 1994 [Akta 514], dan mengisytiharkan bahawa Covid-19 diiktiraf sebagai penyakit pekerjaan. Perubahan lain dan/atau pindaan kepada undang-undang untuk memastikan perlindungan yang sama kepada semua pekerja mungkin memerlukan persetujuan Parlimen.


Maka, kami 


-    Menyeru Malaysia untuk segera menjadikan Covid-19 satu penyakit pekerjaan, terutamanya jika pekerja dijangkiti akibat pekerjaan, sama ada dalam perjalanan pergi balik  kerja, dan di tempat kerja pekerja atau di tempat penginapan yang disediakan oleh majikan;

Menyeru Malaysia  meminda semua undang-undang keselamatan sosial pekerja yang relevan, untuk memastikan remedi dan pampasan wajar dan adil untuk pekerja, keluarga pekerja dan/atau tanggungan mereka terutama jika berlaku kematian, atau ketidakupayaan yang memberi kesan kepada keupayaan untuk terus bekerja dan/atau memperoleh pendapatan pada masa depan; 

- Menyeru agar Malaysia memastikan bahawa majikan terikat oleh undang-undang untuk menyediakan persekitaran kerja yang selamat, termasuk selamat dari jangkitan manusia ke manusia di tempat kerja untuk penyakit saperti Covid-19,

- Menuntut Malaysia dan semua majikan untuk memastikan bahawa keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan semua pekerja sentiasa diberi keutamaan dan dilindungi.



Charles Hector

Apolinar Tolentino 



Bagi pihak 55 kumpulan yang berikut



WH4C(Workers Hub For Change)

Malaysian Trade Union Congress (MTUC)

Clean Clothes Campaign Network (CCC)

Building and Wood Workers International (BWI) Asia Pacific Region

Labour Behind the Label, United Kingdom

Odhikar, Bangladesh

National Union of Transport Equipment & Allied Industries Workers (NUTEAW), Malaysia

Persatuan Kesedaran Komuniti Selangor (EMPOWER)

Timber Industry Employee Union Sarawak (TIEUS)

MADPET (Malaysians Against Death Penalty and Torture)

North South Initiative(NSI)

Kesatuan Sekerja Industri Elektronik Wilayah Selatan, Semenanjung Malaysia (KSIEWSSM)

Sarawak Banking Employees Union

MTUC Sarawak (Malaysian Trade Union Congress – Sarawak)

Malayan Technical Services Union           

Timber Employees Union of Peninsula Malaysia

Malay Forest Officers Union      

PKNS Union       

Sabah Timber Industry Employees Union

National Union of Flight Attendants Malaysia (NUFAM)

Legal Action for Women, United Kingdom

Global Womens Strike, United Kingdom

Malaysian Automotive Industry Workers Union Federation

Saya Anak Bangsa Malaysia (SABM)

National Union of Banking Employees(NUBE)

Persatuan Sahabat Wanita Selangor                       

Single Mothers’ Self-Defence, United Kingdom

Association of Human Rights and Defenders and Promoters- HRDP(Myanmar)

Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), India

MARUAH, Singapore

IMA Research Foundation, Bangladesh

Legal Awareness Watch (LAW), Pakistan

Asociación de Trabajadoras del Hogar a Domicilio y de Maquila–Atrahdom, Guatemala

Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI), India

Marvi Rural Development Organization (MRDO), Pakistan

Onward Consulting, Malaysia    

Women of Colour Global Women Strike, United Kingdom

Payday, United Kingdom

Women Against Rape (UK)

Bangladesh Group Netherlands

International  Black Women for Wages for Housework

International Jewish Anti-Zionist Network, UK

Asosasyon ng mga Makabayang Manggagawang Pilipino Overseas in Malaysia (AMMPO-SENTRO)

European Rohingya Council

WinVisible (women with visible & invisible disabilities)

Campaign Abiti Puliti (Italian CCC)

Collectif Ethique sur l'étiquette (France)

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia(NAMM)

Gender Alliance for Development Center, Albania

Sudwind, Austria

Radanar Ayar Association, Myanmar

Philippine Alliance of Human Rights Advocates (PAHRA)

Centre for Research on Multinational Corporations (SOMO)

GoodElectronics Network

Tenaganita, Malaysia




**See full Joint Statement of now 51 groups at Make COVID-19 an Occupational Disease under Law to ensure social protection for all workers and their families (51 Groups) - now 55

 
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