SIBU, Aug 27: Sarawak Association of Marine Industries (Samin) appeals to the Sarawak government to allow full restoration of workforce in the marine industry.
Its president, Dr Renco Yong said the time has come for the workforce in the industry to be fully restored.
“We call upon the State Government to consider allowing staff of shipyards who have received two doses of vaccine to be allowed to go back to work,” said Yong in a statement today.
He pointed out that Covid-19 pandemic has adversely impacted Samin members in particular and the State’s marine industry players in general, owing to movement restrictions and social distancing requirements imposed to curb the pandemic.
“Most of the shipyards in Sarawak have been strictly observing the SOP (standard operating procedure) during all the phases of the Movement Control Order (MCO).
“The shipyards have taken great pains to confine their workers to their living quarters to minimize their contacts with outsiders for their own safety,” said Yong.
Against the backdrop of the still raging Covid-19 pandemic and the devastating impact it has wrought on Sarawak’s economy, Yong said the marine industry players simply could not afford to delay efforts to revitalize the economy.
“Samin is, as always, committed to work with the State and Federal Government agencies involved in the marine industry to promote the interests of its members and enhance the industry’s contribution to the State’s and the country’s economy,” he said.
Yong took the opportunity to call on Sarawak government to continue extending its support to the marine industry to ensure its competitiveness in sustaining the economic growth of the State and the nation.
He said the marine industry is the backbone of the State’s economy as it involves transportation of commodities, goods and merchandise out of Sarawak to markets beyond its shores and the importation of cargos into the State.
“It is also crucial to the offshore oil and gas industry which is a significant contributor to the State’s economy.
“In this regard, the continuous support of the State Government in the form of incentives and favourable policies is pertinent in helping industry players to weather these challenging times and to become competitive nationally and internationally when economy rebounds,” said Yong.
Despite the change of government, he hoped the Sarawak government will continue to promote development of the marine industry.
“We are sure that the new Government and Prime Minister will put the nation’s economic recovery on the top of their agenda and will quickly get our economic house in order,” said Yong. — DayakDaily
