The government will never compromise on the welfare of workers, especially during the two-week period of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said the government needed the cooperation of all parties, including employers and employees, to come up with a positive solution.

“We need to curb the COVID-19 pandemic and our unity in this matter is extremely crucial to achieving the success we seek,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

The MCO, effective nationwide from March 18 to March 31, was declared by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin on March 16 aimed at curbing the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, Saravanan said that until today there were still reports of factories operating during the MCO and forcing their employees to take annual leave and unpaid leave.

“Such irresponsible action will surely thwart the government’s efforts to tackle and break the COVID-19 chain,” he said.

Commenting further, he said the two-week MCO is one of the most challenging period faced by all Malaysians in the fight to curb the spread of the virus.

“This move will surely have a huge impact on local workers and businesses. However, it is everyone’s responsibility to adhere to the MCO,” he said.

-- BERNAMA