Employers have been warned not to forfeit workers' wages or force employees to utilise their annual leave during the duration of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Human Resources Minister, Datuk Seri M. Saravanan instead implored employers to pay full wages to their employees throughout the period.

"The Ministry of Human Resources is calling on all employers and employees under essential services and non-essential services as determined by the National Security Council (MKN) to fully comply with the Movement Control Order," he said in a statement on Thursday.

He also reiterated that the Employment Retention Program or ERP implemented through the Employment Insurance System (SIP) would act as a relief to workers who incurred losses in the form of temporary financial aid and employment services.

"The Human Resources Development Fund (EPF) or better known as the HRDF has launched the Training Stimulus Package 2020 (PRL2020) initiative that will benefit more than 40,000 local workers and offer relief to the 8 sub-sectors affected by COVID-19, including hospitality, tourism management and air transportation, "he said.