KUCHING, Aug 27: Police are urging employees who are being forced to go to work, despite being Covid-19 positive, to lodge a police report against their employers, if such cases exist.
Kuching police chief ACP Ahsmon Bajah said it is an offense for employers to force their workforce to work despite being infected with Covid-19, under Section 22(b) of the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, which is punishable to a term of imprisonment between two and five years or a fine.
Employers will also be charged under Section 269 of the Penal Code, which carries an imprisonment term of up to six months, a fine or both.
He was responding to a viral post on social media titled ‘Majikan di Kuching paksa pekerja positif turun kerja’ (Employers in Kuching forcing positive staff to work) on Aug 23, 2021.
“The person who posted this appealed for help from the public and proposed to lodge a police report against such employers.
“To-date, police have not received any complaints or reports from individuals being treated in such a manner by their employers.
“If there are, we urge them to go to any nearest police station to make a report so that police can investigate and take further action,” ” Ahsmon said in a statement.
Members of the public can also contact the police hotline at 082-240800 or Kuching Police District at 082-244444. — DayakDaily
