DAP MPs criticise Putrajaya for confusion over work-from-home SOPs
COVID-19 | DAP Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh has slammed Putrajaya for issuing a "half-baked" work-from-home directive that has caused much confusion among the people since it was announced on Oct 20.
In a statement today, she attributed the confusing standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the work-from-home directive to the lack of coordination among the federal ministries.
"I urge the National Security Council to finalise and coordinate all SOPs before making an announcement and not make the people wait for another ministry to announce further details.
"The recent 'work-from-home' directive that was too general and confusing is a case in point," she said.
Yeoh added in her statement: "Confusing and half-baked statements have resulted in great uncertainty, especially among business communities and those with families because every day matters to them.
"The uncertainties from the confusing SOPs have caused economic hardship to businesses and may cost potential business opportunities. It would be challenging for enforcement officers to enforce rules, leading to inconsistency on the ground.
"I urge the government to clarify the confusion swiftly and ensure that a penalty is not imposed on those who are confused by the SOPs announced by both senior ministers, Ismail Sabri Yaakob and Azmin Ali."
She also urged the government to subsidise all the Covid-19 tests that were rushed to be done yesterday because of the confusion over the swab test.
On Oct 20, Ismail (above) said that public and private sector workers in management and supervisory positions in areas under conditional movement control order (MCO) would have to work from home, starting Oct 22.
Yesterday, he then clarified that the order does not affect all industries and civil servants, but only industries under the purview of the Ministry of International Trade and Industry and civil servants under the public service director-general.
The order affects some 800,000 workers in industrial sectors and 200,000 workers in public sectors who are in management or supervisory roles.
The affected areas are Sabah, Labuan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur, and Putrajaya, until the end of their respective conditional MCO.
Ismail also reversed his previous announcement that all those who want to continue to work from offices in red zones were required to undergo Covid-19 testing.
Instead, testing is now mandatory only for foreign workers working in the construction sector and as security guards in red zones. For other workers, testing is “highly recommended”.
Yesterday, Azmin said a maximum of 10 percent of management and supervisory employees will be allowed to work in the office.
This is for those whose duties include accounting, finance, administration, legal, planning, and information technology.
"I want to remind the ministers that their honeymoon period is over. They should start to coordinate with one another before a decision is announced because MCO is no longer a new thing," Yeoh said.
"The senior defence minister should stop holding daily press conferences if there is nothing substantive and helpful to announce. A press conference is not a place to promote his outfits or display collectables.
"The people are left more confused by more unnecessary announcements. Stop the confusion, stop Covid-19. If Covid-19 doesn't kill the economy, their incompetency will," she added.
Meanwhile, Bangi MP Ong Kian Ming (photo) said the explanation by Ismail and Azmin yesterday has raised more questions than answers.
The DAP lawmaker pointed out that while Azmin stated the work from home order would be applied to "manufacturing, services and construction" sectors, Ismail had said "industries and civil service" will be affected.
"So, which are the sectors and industries affected by the order?" he asked in a statement today.
Similarly, Ong said it was unclear who exactly comes under the management and supervisory staff.
He added that the directive may not apply in professional services as almost everyone beyond the entry-level would have at least some supervisory responsibilities.
Ong also questioned the SOPs which only allow the management and supervisory staff to work only four hours for three days a week.
He asked if the ministry can make exceptions for sectors which could not function when only 10 percent of their management and supervisory staff work at the office.
It is also unclear which vicinity falls under red zones where work from home order will be applied from today onwards, Ong added.
He said while Petaling, Hulu Langat, Gombak, Klang, Sepang are classified as red zones, not all the sub-districts under these six districts fall under the red zone.
"The Kapar sub-district in the Klang district is a yellow zone and only the Kajang sub-district in the Hulu Langat district is classified as a red zone. In addition, do companies know the exact boundaries of these sub-districts?" Ong asked.
He urged the government to provide further details on the latest directives.
Former human resources minister M Kulasegaran (photo) said workers are experiencing unnecessary problems while going to work with the new ruling.
"I have received numerous complaints that some are being stopped at roadblocks while on the way to work and are being asked to return home while some are resorting to closing their businesses rather than facing fines.
"Workers and businesses are helpless, not knowing which SOPs to follow as conflicting SOPs were announced by Ismail and Azmin.
"Workers are still unsure if they have to get swab tests before going to work. I urge the government to go back to the drawing board and nominate one minister to be in charge of announcing the SOPs once they are final, and easy to understand and follow," said the Ipoh Barat MP.
Kulasegaran urged the government to consult relevant stakeholders, including the employers, employees and NGOs, before making any more decisions.
