Under PIKAS, Employers Will Cover the Vaccination Costs

Senior Minister Datuk Seri Azmin Ali said that the authorities would ensure that employers do not make workers absorb the costs of vaccination under the Program Imunisasi Industri Covid-19 Kerjasama Awam-Swasta (PIKAS).

According to the minister, vaccines are free, but industries have decided to absorb the facility cost to speed up the vaccination programme. He said that the PIKAS offer to essential industries comes with strict guidelines to companies that employers must bear all costs and must not in any way pass it on to their employees. 

"The announcement of PIKAS comes with a stern warning to companies. Not only are they not permitted to transfer the costs to employees because government policy is free to all, but employers also must complete the whole cycle – two doses to each employee. 

"This has been agreed by the industry associations.

"They have agreed to absorb the administrative costs to ensure a smooth running of the vaccination plan for their employees," said the International Trade and Industry Minister.

PIKAS will begin on 16 June

Azmin said he would be visiting the three states: Selangor, Johor and Pahang. These states are involved in PIKAS when the pilot phase begins on Wednesday (16 June). He also said that the PIKAS offer was at RM90 per worker.

On Saturday (12 June), the International Trade and Industry Ministry (MITI) said that PIKAS would be launched as Phase Four of the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme. PIKAS involves voluntary immunisation for workers in the manufacturing sector.

PIKAS will be launched on 16 June.

Employers taking part can have their employees vaccinated at selected vaccination centres or choose on-site vaccination at designated industrial locations and factories. 

MITI also said that it would prioritise companies in critical manufacturing sub-sectors such as: 

• Electrical and electronics, 
• food processing, 
• iron and steel, 
• personal protective equipment (PPE),
• oil and gas,
• rubber products,
• medical glove manufacturing, and
• food processing.

The ministry said it would coordinate the immunisation for workers in the manufacturing sector. Other ministries would be handling the vaccination of workers in their respective sectors. 

As of now, MITI said 500 companies with 106,591 workers had signed up to take part in PIKAS.

An initiative to speed up vaccination of workers

Federation of Malaysian Manufacturers president Tan Sri Soh Thian Lai said PIKAS originated from ideas from employers who wanted to accelerate the vaccination of the 2.4 million workers in the manufacturing sector.

"We hope with the vaccination of workers, we can increase the capacity of workers working on-site from the current 60%.

"We also ask that PIKAS include non-essential industries as soon as possible so that they too can operate as they form part of the chain for essential industries," he said.

High time for mass vaccination of workers

Industries Unite (IU), a coalition of SMEs and small businesses, said that it was timely for mass vaccination of employees.

IU group coordinator Datuk Irwin Cheong said they hoped the government could further decrease the costs, as it could take a toll on SMEs.

"This is something we have been pushing for. We are grateful our request has been seen favourably by the government," said Chong.

Source: The Star

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