Commenting on health minister Dr Adham Baba’s warning to employers who prevent staff from undergoing self-quarantine pending their test results, MEF president Syed Hussain Syed Husman said most employers were doing their best to curb the spread of the virus.

“It is not right to paint a picture that employers in general are recalcitrant and do not follow the established SOPs,” he said in a statement today.

“As long as the instructions provided by the authorities are clear and consistent, most employers will follow.”

Syed Hussain added that home quarantine was not the only option for employers as the international trade and industry ministry (Miti) had previously introduced the Safe@Work voluntary programme for the manufacturing and related services industries, where close contacts would still be allowed to work under the “safe bubble” concept.

He said while the impact of a full lockdown would be devastating to businesses and the economy, MEF understands that there is a dire need to curb the rising number of Covid-19 infections.

“Any decisions and statements towards this end must also take into consideration the interest of businesses and the preservation of livelihoods,” he added.

Yesterday, Adham said workers who test positive must undergo compulsory quarantine for 10 days while those who test negative should go into self-isolation.

Speaking at a press conference in Putrajaya, Adham said action could be taken under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988 (Act 342) if employers do not allow their workers, whether suspected cases or those being tested, to go into self-quarantine until their results are obtained.