KUALA LUMPUR, 21 Oct 2020:
The Ministry of International Trade and Industry (Miti) has decided to allow only a maximum 10% of managerial and supervisory staff in areas under the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) to work from the office starting tomorrow, Oct 22.
Senior minister Datuk Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali, who is also Miti minister, said these employees are those involved in – among others – accounting, finance, administration, legislation, planning, and information and communications technology.
However, they are only permitted to work in the office for four hours – from 10am to 2pm – for three days a week, he said in a statement today.
Based on the Miti Covid-19 Intelligent Management System (CIMS) database, Mohamed Azmin said employees registered in the manufacturing, services and construction sectors in Sabah, Labuan, Kuala Lumpur, Selangor and Putrajaya total 3.1 million people.
According to the feedback received from the industry, a total of 776,135 employees or 25% are in the fields of management and supervision.
“This group is required to work from home (WFH) starting Oct 22, in line with the National Security Council’s (MKN) decision.”
Mohamed Azmin said companies do not need to submit applications for the purpose of working in the office and employers only need to issue a travel release letter for each employee who is allowed to work during the CMCO period.
“Employers need to set appropriate WFH guidelines according to the needs of their respective companies.”
Mohamed Azmin said the decision to introduce the WFH policy for managerial and supervisory staff, especially to reduce the risk of Covid-19 transmission in areas under the CMCO, was taken following a special session by MKN chaired by the prime minister yesterday to discuss the latest feedback and situation on the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Miti takes seriously the Ministry of Health Malaysia’s advice for the public to stay at home so that we can flatten the curve in the near future.”
As a pre-emptive measure to curb the spread of Covid-19, The Health Ministry is of the view there is an urgent need to tighten the standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the CMCO by limiting the movement of people – especially in Selangor and Kuala Lumpur, which have dense populations and are among the country’s main industrial hubs.
“As a caring and responsible government, it is important to achieve a balance between public health protection and the continuation of economic activities.”
Mohamed Azmin said.the government will continue to work with the private sector and industry in an effort to enhance the implementation of WFH as a new norm in line with the sophistication of the latest technology and online applications.
“Miti will continue to monitor and implement strict enforcement to ensure the implementation and compliance of SOPs among the industry.”
All heads of public service departments in Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, Labuan, Selangor and Sabah must ensure a maximum of 30% staff present at the office from tomorrow until CMCO ends.
Public Service Department director-general Tan Sri Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman said the instruction was not applicable to those in the essential services.
“For this purpose, all department heads are instructed to ensure that officers at the management and administrative level who are not required to be in the office full time are scheduled to work from home, either on a rotating or full-time basis so that their attendance at the office is optimised during the CMCO period,” he said in a statement today.
He said the directive in the circulars, namely Surat Edaran JPA.SARAAN(S)256/6/31 JLD.6 (2) dated 17 March 2020, and Surat Edaran JPA.SARAAN(S)256/6/31 JLD.6 (6) dated 2 May 2020 still applies.
Mohd Khairul Adib said all face-to-face activities such as meetings, discussions or trainings are prohibited and must be fully conducted online while official confidential documents are not allowed to be brought out from the office during this period.
“However, the department head can give permission for the official confidential documents, including the hard copies or the soft copies, to be brought out from the office based on the guidelines set by the Chief Government Security Office.”
He also reminded the department heads to ensure full compliance with all rules, guidelines and circulars issued by MKN, Ministry of Health and Public Service Department.
“These instructions are also extended to all state public services, statutory authorities, and local authorities affected by the CMCO.”
– Bernama