MCO 2.0: Who Can Go To Work?

On Jan 11, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced new nationwide movement restrictions to control the sudden hike of Covid-19 cases. Yesterday, Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah has approved to a state of emergency until August 1, 2021, or until the current surge of Covid-19 subsides. 

Those who are working in the six MCO areas: Penang, Selangor, Melaka, Johor and Sabah, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya and Labuan will need to adhere to the new MCO requirements.

Here are the details:

Manufacturing sector workers must show documents

Manufacturing sector workers need to show documents issued by the employer and Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) at police roadblocks while on the way to work during the movement control order (MCO).

Its minister, Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali said Miti has oversight over the manufacturing sector. 

Here is what you need to know about company operations during the MCO period:

1. Manufacturing firms in the essential services need to register with Miti's online database, the Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS).

2. Companies that have not registered can do so at https://notification.miti.gov.my. They will then need to download the notification of registration confirmation.

3. Companies can send an email to [email protected] if they face any technical problems.

4. Companies that have already registered under the CIMS system will not need to register again. They also do not need to update the previously declared list of employees in the CIMS system.

5. The previous letter of approval to operate issued in 2020 to such companies are cancelled. Companies that had already registered will need to download the newest letter of notification of registration confirmation at https://notification.miti.gov.my using the same log-in details.

What staff need to bring to work

The registration process through CIMS only applies to companies in the manufacturing sector under Miti. Commercial vehicles transporting goods and services can travel in MCO areas using an employee pass or the company's approval letter.

Delivery of commercial items or travel for work that crosses states or districts is permitted, only requiring an employee pass or employer's approval letter.

As for private vehicles, the allowed maximum number of persons for those transporting essential goods are only two (1 driver and 1 passenger). The maximum limit is three persons (1 driver and 2 passengers) if seeking treatment at a medical facility.

All information related to the MCO on manufacturing sectors can be accessed here. Source: Miti@Twitter

Not everyone can go to work

During MCO, only 30% of employees in the management group of companies in essential services are allowed to be in the office. The rest will have to work from home. The management group includes:

• accounting, 
• finance, 
• administration, 
• legal, 
• planning, 
• ICT and related tasks.

For instance, if there are ten people in the management group of an organisation, only three persons are allowed to be in the office at a time. 

For the support staff, the numbers allowed at the workplace would be determined by the employer in compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs). For employees in sectors that are not essential, the work from home order will apply to them. The directive will also apply for a job that does not require physical attendance.

According to Miti, employers can take action on employees who refuse to come to work and insist on working from home, as long as it follows the government policies and laws. For further questions, employers can contact the Department of Labour.

As for other questions such as whether in-office employees should undergo Covid-19 tests, companies can refer to the general MCO SOPs on the National Security Council's website at www.mkn.gov.my.

All information related to the MCO on manufacturing sectors can be accessed here. Source: Miti@Twitter

As to whether companies can operate for 24 hours during the MCO:

• Manufacturing companies under Miti's purview could refer to the SOPs at Miti's website www.miti.gov.my.

• Other companies under the five essential economic sectors can refer to the specific SOPs by the relevant ministries or government agencies. 

• All the other companies can refer to the general MCO SOPs at www.mkn.gov.my.

If a company does not comply with MCO SOPs, one can lodge a report at the nearest police station.

Miti and the state authorities will be carrying out periodic enforcement during the MCO period on companies to ensure compliance with SOPs. Employer's failure to comply with SOPs will be met with legal action such as the issuing of compounds for offences or closure of premises.

You can find the full list (as of January 10) of the industries under the five essential economic sectors allowed to operate during the MCO here. Those who are not on the list can operate after talks with the relevant authorities and the Health Minister.

Source: Malay Mail

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