By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, July 14 — The Selangor Vaccination Programme (Selvax) for the industrial sector (Selvax Industry), which gets employees under the initiative inoculated, should be emulated by other states as well.
KDEB Waste Management (KDEBWM) managing director Ramli Mohd Tahir said even though the employers have to set aside some allocation for the purpose, it is worthwhile as the company would be able to protect their workers while continuing its operations.
“Why do we need to pay? I think we should not dispute this because our workers’ lives are more important. Imagine if there is no worker, who is going to help with our operations?
“We are only required to pay a one-off amount for the vaccines. But if the workers do not get their jabs, they would be exposed to the virus and would have to be screened. The cost for one screening is around RM150 and it will be higher if we have to do it repeatedly,” he said during a virtual talk show programme titled ‘Challenges of Waste Management during Covid-19’, last night.
The talk show was broadcasted live via Media Selangor Facebook and Selangor TV Youtube platforms.
Ramli said employers are urged to grab the opportunity should there be a third party helping with the procurement of the vaccines.
“I support the initiative and I don’t think it is wrong. We can save on other expenses and focus the spending on vaccine procurement.
“We don’t know how long we have to wait for our turn through the National Covid-19 Immunisation Programme (PICK). As an employer, we have to take the right action even though we have to pay for it,” he said.
The state government had provided two million doses of vaccines under Selvax Industry to curb the outbreak of Covid-19 at workplaces due to the high number of positive cases detected.
Following the launch of the initiative, over 62,000 companies involving around 2.9 million workers have registered under the programme.
