KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 18 (NNN-Bernama) — Only foreign workers who are confirmed healthy and free from any dangerous or contagious diseases will be allowed to work in Malaysia and get a Temporary Employment Visit Pass (PLKS), said Health Minister Dr Dzulkefly Ahmad (left).
Dr Dzulkefly said employers were required to repatriate foreign workers who failed health checks.
“If the employer fails to do so, the PLKS for other foreign workers under the employer will not be renewed by the Immigration Department,” he said during an oral question-and-answer session at the Dewan Rakyat (Malaysian Parliament).
He was responding to a question from Johari Abdul (a member of parliament) who wanted to know the measures the government had taken to ensure that foreign workers brought into the country actually passed a medical examination recognised by the country of origin of the worker or Malaysia.
Dr Dzulkefly said foreign workers must first pass a medical examination that is recognised by their home country and the ministry’s policy was to verify the health checks on these foreign workers within a month of arriving in Malaysia.
“Foreign workers working in Malaysia are legally required to undergo medical examinations at the Foreign Workers’ Medical Examination (FOMEMA) panel including chest X-rays and laboratory examinations.
“Through this examination foreign workers are screened for Tuberculosis (TB), HIV, malaria, Hepatitis B, leprosy, syphilis, psychiatry, cancer, drug abuse, pregnancy and other diseases such as diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus), high blood pressure and kidney failure,” he said.
However, Dr Dzulkefly said some diseases such as HIV and Hepatitis B have a window period that can last from two weeks to several months or even a year and more.
— NNN-BERNAMA