PETALING JAYA: While the lifting of the Covid-19 Home Surveillance Order (HSO) rule is welcomed by employers and workers, they want self-testing and isolation procedures to continue.

SME Association of Malaysia president Datuk William Ng said most businesses already have an established standard operating procedure (SOP) for employees to report in sick, as well as provisions for medical leave and emergencies.

“With Malaysia transitioning into the ‘living with Covid-19’ phase, we need to treat Covid-19 like any other infection.

“Employees should be encouraged to visit a doctor and stay at home based on medical advice,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Ng said most of the practices adopted by small and medium enterprises during the pandemic should continue as part of the new normal after the HSO requirement is lifted on July 15.

Among them are physical distancing, wearing masks and asking infected employees to work from home.

“Businesses must continue to develop the SOP for reporting illnesses in their workplace as they foster confidence.

“When an employee reports an illness or infection, they should receive appropriate treatment and support,” said Ng.

Joshua Soon, 30, who works with a property developer in Petaling Jaya, agreed with the lifting of the HSO rule as Covid-19 has become as prevalent as influenza.“It is hard to protect (ourselves) against Covid-19 as many do not wear masks nowadays.

“The best thing for an employee who is positive for Covid-19 to do is to practise self-discipline.

“Be responsible and stay home to avoid spreading the virus in the workplace,” he said when contacted yesterday.

Wong Kok Keong, 45, a photographer from Kuala Lumpur, suggested that employees who have been infected with Covid-19 should be allowed to work from home to avoid infecting others.

“Despite the pandemic slowing down, people with low immunity are still susceptible to reinfection, which could pose a health risk to others,” he added.

Wong said he would continue to wear a mask when working in crowded places or at events.

https://www.thestar.com.my/news/nation/2024/07/07/stand-by-workplace-sop-urge-bosses-and-workers