Covid-19 screening of workers to be subsidized by govt, says Minister of Human Resources

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31: The government will subsidise Covid-19 screening tests for workers who are Social Security Organisation (Socso) contributors, effective June 1.

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said the ministry is committed to expanding the reach of Covid-19 screening to workers through the “Program Saringan Prihatin (PSP) PERKESO” implemented by Socso.

In a statement today, he said employers were allowed to claim a subsidy of RM150 for each Covid-19 screening undertaken by their workers who are Socso contributors.

The subsidy programme, he said, would utilise the previously-approved RM200 million allocation from the government.

“The Human Resources Ministry, together with the Health and Works ministries, have agreed that the scope of PSP PERKESO should be expanded by increasing the number of Covid-19 screening service providers.

“In accordance with the government’s objective to ensure a safe and healthy workplace, the Human Resources Ministry, through Socso, will provide a subsidy to employers for Covid-19 tests conducted under PSP PERKESO.

“Employers can send their workers to undergo screening at any clinic or hospital approved by the Health Ministry.”

Saravanan said under the subsidy programme, foreign workers in the construction and security services sectors in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur will be prioritised for Covid-19 screening.

This, he said, was in line with the government’s recommendation to undertake targeted screening of high-risk workers to break the chain of Covid-19 transmission.

For workers who are not in the target group, the cost of Covid-19 screening should be borne by the employer as a continuation of efforts to prevent the outbreak among all workers in the country, he said.

“The expansion of the scope of PSP PERKESO through the Covid-19 screening subsidy will take effect from June 1. The procedure of the subsidy programme will be updated from time to time.

“The latest information on the PSP PERKESO operations will be made available at the Prihatin Portal (https://prihatin.perkeso.gov.my) provided by Socso,” he added.