​PETALING JAYA: MEF President Dato’ Dr Syed Hussain Syed Husman J.P. affirmed the private sector employers’ commitment to support the National Immunisation Programme (NIP) by urging private sector employers to provide employees time off to be inoculated against Covid-19. 

In responding to recent calls by the Minister of Human Resources YB Datuk Seri M. Saravanan for employers to grant their employees such flexibility, he said: “As responsible employers, we must support the NIP in any way we can as the safety and health of our employees is a paramount concern.

“MEF strongly encourages private sector employers to educate their employees by creating awareness on the benefits of Covid-19 vaccination, and also to allow employees to take time off work to get the jab.

“With more awareness and getting full support from their employers, the employees, as well as their families, would be more confident about taking the jab as some are still wary of the Covid-19 vaccine. 

"But whether the employer grants paid leave to the employee should remain the discretion of the employer and not be made compulsory.

“MEF would like to propose to the government to allow employers to send their employees to vaccination  centres in batches to facilitate transport arrangements and other logistics.”

Dato’ Dr Syed Hussain said the employers’ role towards achieving herd immunity against Covid-19 was critical considering that the government would not declare a special holiday for this purpose as the vaccinations would not be carried out on the same day.

“Furthermore, one day of paid leave would cost private sector employers in Malaysia about RM904 million,” he added.

For further information, contact the MEF Secretariat at 03-7955-7778 or fax 03-7955-9008 or email mef-hq@mef.org.my. 

11 APRIL 2021