CMCO: Govt allows 10pct of management, supervisory workers to work in office

(Editor's note: Added section regarding swab tests for those in "red zones".)

COVID-19 | The government has further clarified exemptions granted to public and private sector workers in management and supervisory roles from a mandatory work from home order.

The mandatory work from home order is in force starting tomorrow for areas under conditional movement control order (MCO) namely Sabah, Labuan, Selangor, Kuala Lumpur and Putrajaya.

International Trade and Industry Minister Azmin Ali said a maximum of 10 percent of management and supervisory employees will be allowed to work in the office.

This is for those whose duties include accounting, finance, administration, legal, planning, and IT.

However, they are only allowed to be in the office for four hours, from 10am to 2pm, three days a week.

Azmin said companies need not apply for exemptions but must issue letters for those allowed to work in the office during the conditional MCO period.

"Employers need to set appropriate work from home guidelines based on their companies' needs," he added.

Azmin's statement did not specifically address whether workers in or from the red zones are required to undergo Covid-19 swab tests.

Under the conditional MCO rules announced yesterday, workers from red zones who wish to return to the office must be tested for Covid-19.

Red zones, according to Health Ministry definition, are districts which have more than 41 new Covid-19 cases within the past 14 days.

Employees living in red zones who need to go to the office will also need to take swab tests for Covid-19.

The mandatory work from home order was announced yesterday in an effort to curb the spread of Covid-19 by limiting the number of workers in factories and offices.

About one million workers are expected to be told to work from home.

Meanwhile, a circular from the Public Service Department is ordering department heads to limit the number of federal civil servants in offices to 30 percent while ensuring that basic agency services to the public are not affected.

Those rendering essential services are exempt from this order.

The circular, issued by Public Service director-general Mohd Khairul Adib Abd Rahman, states that any face to face activities such as meetings, discussions and training, must be done online.

It also states that classified documents can't be brought out unless with permission from a department head.