Construction Full Of Migrant Workers Umno Youth Questions Azmin S Exemptions

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Umno Youth has questioned the wisdom in allowing three critical sectors, including construction, to operate during the movement control order (MCO) period
Apart from construction and its related services, the other two sectors which can submit applications to the International Trade and Industry Ministry to resume operations are electrical and engineering as well as machine and components
Contrary to International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali's claim that it is to safeguard the economy and the jobs of some two million local workers, Umno Youth chief Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki pointed out that the construction sector is dominated by migrant workers
"Is the claim that the move will benefit some two million local workers true when it is common knowledge the majority are migrant workers in the construction sector?" he said in a Facebook post
Asyraf also noted Singapore's experience with regard to increasing Covid-19 infections from clusters linked to its migrant workers population
"I hope the senior minister (Azmin) has sought the views of Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah on the matter and is not only out to chase temporary profits," he added
Yesterday, Azmin said the construction and its related services currently employ 1,330,266 workers, electrical and engineering (550,950) whereas machines and components (352,151)
"Companies allowed to operate must ensure compliance with the Health Ministry's guidelines and adapt to new norms so that spread of the outbreak can be contained," he tweeted
On April 10, the International Trade and Industry Ministry announced that additional sectors would be exempted from some of the restrictions under MCO
The ministry's website later crashed following overwhelming response to the online application process
The MCO was imposed on March 18 to flatten the Covid-19 infection curve. It was scheduled to end on March 31 but has since been extended twice until April 28. - Mkini

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