Govt allows critical manufacturing sector to operate

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KUALA LUMPUR: The government has given conditional approval to critical products manufacturers to operate during the enforcement of the Movement Control Order.

The National Security Council (MKN) said among the conditions are keeping the number of employees working at a minimum as well as implementing the rotation of workers.

“The industries must also ensure that health checks and Covid-19 preventive measures are carried out at company’s level to ensure the safety of workers and customers,” MKN said in a statement today.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on Monday, announced nationwide enforcement of the Movement Control Order from March 18 to 31, to contain the spread of Covid-19.

According to MKN, the government through the Ministry of Industry and International Trade had held an engagement session with industry players yesterday (March 17), attended by associations and business chambers such as the Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers (FMM); National Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia (NCCIM); American Malaysian Chamber of Commerce (AMCHAM)  and The Japanese Chamber of Trade and Industry, Malaysia (JACTIM) which represent the country’s manufacturing sector.

The statement said the government welcomed the industry’s understanding of the justification of the Order to contain Covid-19 outbreak.

“In this regard, the government takes the challenges faced by the industry seriously and also recognises the importance of the industry sector during the implementation period of the Movement Control Order.

“The government will continue to work with the industry community, particularly in ensuring the supply of essential products is not disrupted,” it said.

MKN said companies approved to operate must comply with the following conditions:

  1. The company must reduce the number of workers to the minimum or at least 50 per cent of the total, for operation during the enforcement of the Order. The company must establish a home-based work system for workers not involved in critical manufacturing activities.
  2. The company must meet the demand and need for the product or service for the local market.
  3. The company must submit to MITI the list of involved workers and ensure the movement of workers is restricted from home to factory/premises.
  4. The company must provide temperature screening device and take daily temperature readings of the employees at the factory/premises entrance. Readings for every employee should be recorded and kept for reference.
  5. If the temperature is found above normal, the company must contact the nearest health office or government hospital.
  6. All workers must comply with Covid-19 preventive procedures issued by the Ministry of Health (MOH) from time to time.
  7. The company must provide hand sanitisers at the entrance and other relevant places in the factory/premises, as well as ensure all workers wear face masks.
  8. The company must carry out a disinfection process at the factory/premises before each shift or operation begins.
  9. The sanitation and cleaning process should be carried out three times a day especially in common spaces such as lobby, elevator, cafeteria, meeting room, prayer room, employee bus/transport and indoor recreation centre.
  10. The company must ensure that the employee’s transport undergoes a sanitation and disinfection process before use.
  11. Companies must ensure that social distancing best practice guidelines are in place and are implemented particularly in production floor; cafeteria/canteen; meeting room and multipurpose hall.
  12. In the event of an employee being infected with Covid-19, the company is responsible for the full costs of all medical expenses, the process of disinfecting premises, and other related costs.
  13. The government would like to emphasise that the approval can be cancelled and revoked if the company/industry fails to meet specified conditions.
  14. The government reserves the right to amend the above conditions, subject to the current circumstances.

The following is the list of approved critical manufacturing sectors, subject to MITI conditions:

Products

  1. Food and beverage including imported goods
  • Rice
  • Sugar
  • Vegetable oil and animal fats
  • Flour and grains
  • Bread
  • Water
  • Dairy products – milk and baby formula
  • Spices
  • Dry foods
  • Coffee and tea
  • Canned food
  • Beef
  • Chicken
  • Animal/livestock feed
  • Processed fruits and vegetables – Bernama

2. Agriculture and fisheries including imports

  • Fish and seafood
  • Fruits
  • Vegetables

3. Household products

  • Detergent
  • Disinfectant products
  • Sanitisers
  • Personal care products
  • Toilet and tissue paper

4. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) including fire safety equipment and medical gear including face mask and rubber gloves.

5. Pharmaceuticals – all chemicals and medicines

6. Packaging and printing materials including ink

7. Medical and surgical devices

8. Parts for medical equipment such as parts for ventilator
List of products that are part of the essential product supply chain to be excluded from movement restriction order:

  1. Oil and gas
  2. Petrochemicals
  •  Resin PTA & PET
  • Polyester fibre & filament
  • Polypropylene & polyethylene
  • Resin ABS & MABS
  • Maleic Anhydride
  • PVC Paste Resins
  • Expanded EPE
  • Impact modifiers & processing aids
  • Styrene Monomer
  • Styrene Butadiene Latex
  • Polystyrene

3. Chemical substances and products – fertilisers and pesticides

4. Electrical and electronic including semiconductor – Bernama