A group of non-governmental organisations (NGOs) have rallied together to call for public health policies that are “inclusive and durable,” stating that all of society has to cooperate to keep the spread of Covid-19 under control.
The Malaysian Health Coalition (MHC), Malaysian Trades Union Congress (MTUC) and Tenaganita, alongside nine other NGOs, urged that all public health policies must be inclusive and non-discriminatory to every resident in Malaysia.
“The health and wellbeing of all residents in Malaysia, including non-citizens, are vital to everyone’s health. We support the government’s decision to provide medical treatment and healthcare to the Covid-19 positive cases which have emerged in immigration detention centres. However, this must come together with other measures in parallel,” said the coalition in a statement dated June 1.
The three items called for were improved living conditions for migrant workers, the development of a coherent and comprehensive workforce policy, and the improvement of conditions in detention centres.
For the first, the coalition called for the government to convene the National Labour Advisory Council (NLAC) and enforce the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (amended 2019) without undue delay.
“Immediate mitigation measures must be put in place to ensure that the virus does not spread. Meanwhile, details of the Act and its implementation guidelines should be disseminated publicly so ordinary citizens can play a role in monitoring the implementation of the Act. Companies that repeatedly violate the Act should not be permitted to employ migrant workers,” said the coalition.
The second saw the groups calling for the government to develop a coherent and comprehensive workforce policy that accounts for the true needs of migrant workers, which should protect the health and safety of all migrant workers in Malaysia. This, said the groups, should include appropriate and adequate financing for their healthcare.
“A comprehensive long-term policy will also reduce the trust deficit among non-citizen residents, who may be hesitant to seek the required medical attention or healthcare for fear of deportation. That said, policies against illegal migration must remain in place, and migration must be controlled,” said the coalition.
It was also noted that immigration detention centres are crowded and confined areas where close conversations are unavoidable, which make up the three C’s the Ministry of Health has advised against.
“These conditions must be improved to allow for necessary physical distancing measures which will help prevent further Covid-19 outbreaks in detention centres. Moreover, the needs of women and children detainees especially must be looked after,” said the NGOs.
The coalition noted that “an all-of-society effort” is needed to keep the spread of Covid-19 in the country under control. This, the coalition pointed out, includes cooperation from all citizens and non-citizen residents of Malaysia.
“With more than four months of experience fighting Covid-19 and with an indefinite journey ahead, it is time for inclusive and durable solutions, not reactive and discriminatory ones,” said the group. – June 1, 2020
