When a 29 year old worker dies because of Covid-19, questions arise as to why this person not an elderly with other complications died.
A Top Glove employee who died on Saturday was admitted to hospital only in the later stages of Covid-19 when his condition had worsened, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.
Unlike a local worker, who is free to move and go to hospitals when sick, a migrant worker finds it more difficult to act on his own and go seek medical treatment - more so when they are housed in worker accommodation provided by the employer, where they maybe even further restrictions as to movement and travel.
The EMPLOYER should be responsible for providing speedy access healthcare to their workers - and, as such, the question arises whether the employer is to be blamed for the delay in sending Nepali worker, Yamnarayan Chaudhary Tharu, 29, to the hospital? He died on Saturday (Dec 12) at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.He was allegedly send very late at a stage when he had to be admitted straight to intensive care.
Noor Hisham said the worker, a Nepali security guard for the glove-making company, was in category 4-5, which refers to those who need to be placed in intensive care or who need to be ventilated.“He was admitted into the ICU. We gave him the best treatment we could but he died from lung complications as a result of Covid-19,” Noor Hisham said.
Now, in this case, was there not already Covid-19 infections in the factory? Were the said workers already not being quarantined? Were the Health Ministry officials not on site doing the needed testing and examination?
Hence, the question is how come the said worker was sent to the hospital late - whose fault? Top Glove or Government or another ...?
If he was sent to the hospital much earlier, the chances of this YOUNG worker dying is very slim, is it not?
Where did these Top Glove workers get infected - workplace or accommodation provided by the employer? Unlike Singapore, Malaysia still do not have any LAW that stipulates what needs to be done by the employer to keep workers safe from Covid-19. If there is a law, a breach of the law means the law-breaker will be charged in court, and if found guilty, sentenced..
But all Malaysia seem to have are Standard Operating Procedures(SOPs) or Guidelines which are nothing more than advice or 'recommendations' - If the employer fails to listen to such 'advice', maybe the employer can be scolded - but cannot be charged and tried in court?
If there was an offence that said non-compliance with SOPs or Guidelines is an offence, and shall be punishable with fine or imprisonment - then, maybe such SOPs and Guidelines matter > but there is no such offence?
The obligation placed on an employer to protect the worker from occupational disease should be in the Occupational Safety and Health Act 1994(OSHA) - but the BIG problem, this Act has not even a definition of 'occupational diseases' - a simple amendment could have solved this problem but the government still failed to remedy this serious defect even when new amendments were recently tabled for this law > and this shortcoming in laws have been raised before
See.
Make COVID-19 an Occupational Disease under Law to ensure social protection for all workers and their families (51 Groups)
26 Groups - Minister Fails to Protect Workers from Becoming Victim of Covid-19, only social protection AFTER worker already infected and/or dies now exists. Clear Regulations and Standards Needed that Employers Must Comply to Protect Worker Safety and Health
55 Groups - Prosecute Employers and Contractors for breaching OSH laws resulting in workers becoming Covid-19 victims CIDB’s SOP and Guidelines – Mere Sham or imposes legal obligations?
Prioritize worker rights, safety and health at workplaces when dealing with illegal factories(31 groups)
50 kumpulan - INKUES UNTUK SEMUA KEMATIAN PEKERJA DI TEMPAT KERJA - Dakwa untuk kesalahan membunuh dan menyebabkan kecederaan, bukan sekadar ketidakpatuhan obligasi keselamatan dan kesihatan pekerjaan
Top Glove worker who died ‘came to hospital too late’
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PETALING JAYA: A Top Glove employee who died on Saturday was admitted to hospital only in the later stages of Covid-19 when his condition had worsened, health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah said today.
Noor Hisham said the worker, a Nepali security guard for the glove-making company, was in category 4-5, which refers to those who need to be placed in intensive care or who need to be ventilated.
“He was admitted into the ICU. We gave him the best treatment we could but he died from lung complications as a result of Covid-19,” Noor Hisham said.
The guard, Yamnarayan Chaudhary Tharu, had worked at Top Glove’s F13 factory in Meru, Klang. His death was the first reported at the company.
The Teratai cluster in Selangor is said to have originated from Top Glove’s factories in Meru. A total of 81 new infections were detected within the cluster today, bringing the number of positive cases to 5,531.
Meanwhile, in response to Bukit Gasing assemblyman Rajiv Rishyakaran’s call to review the definition of Covid-19 “close contacts”, Noor Hisham said the health ministry’s definition was set by the World Health Organization.
He said the ministry defined close contacts as healthcare-associated exposure without appropriate use of personal protective equipment, treating patients in a closed environment, working together in close proximity with a positive case, travelling with a patient or living in the same household as someone who has tested positive.
However, he added that they would review this definition from time to time. - FMT, 14/12/2020
Top Glove employee dies of Covid-19 aged 29
KUALA LUMPUR: Top Glove has confirmed the death of a Nepalese employee due to Covid-19.
In a statement, Top Glove said Yamnarayan Chaudhary Tharu, 29, died on Saturday (Dec 12) at the Sungai Buloh Hospital.
"Tharu died as a result of Covid-19 pneumonia with lung fibrosis. Tharu had worked at Top Glove's manufacturing facility in Meru, Klang for over two years.
"Top Glove offers its deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of Tharu.
"We are working with the authorities for Tharu's burial arrangements.
"Additionally, a compassionate payment shall be made to the
next-of-kin to ease the financial burden of his family," said Top Glove. - New Straits Times, 14/12/2020
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