MIGRANTS' HEALTH CHECKS (Be strict, for all our sakes)

The writer (left) believes that a beautiful camaraderie
 makes life a wonderful journey. 

            For many years, Malaysia has attracted millions of foreign citizens to either study or work in the country. Foreign students are eager to pursue their education here while breadwinners wish to find jobs here.

While we work on internationalising our higher institutions and boosting the economy by hiring foreign workers, it is essential for us not to leave out the safety aspect in workplaces. We may not see it coming, but some international students and foreign workers, registered or illegal immigrants, could be carrying contagious diseases. 

            Without official declaration of their health statuses, immigrants put the lives of Malaysians, especially those sharing the same workplaces and neighbourhoods, at risk. Thus, employers should ensure that foreign employees are fit and healthy. While it is important for employers to take into account other criteria - capable of working, willing to commit and having a clean criminal record- they should make it mandatory for foreign workers to undergo health screenings and pass medical tests prior to signing the contracts.

            Sometimes, employers are deceived by the physical appearance of foreigners. With this attitude of judging a book by its cover, employers often jump to conclusions and assume foreign employees are healthy. This happens when employers are desperate for workers to keep a business going or to improve the business performance. Illegal companies will recruit workers by fair means or foul, as long as their financial needs are fulfilled.        

            Foreign students, including those selected for transfer programs, should pass a medical test approved by certified medical practitioners to qualify for admission, even when these undergraduates have undergone health screenings and declared healthy by doctors in their countries. This may be tedious but our strict procedures show that we take the safety of everyone in the country seriously.

            Malaysia has been struggling with the increasing number of people contracting dengue, cancer, tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, and we cannot afford to see the number increasing, or our campaigns on living a healthy lifestyle will be just a waste of time.

Hence, we need to be smart in handling immigrants, including Rohingyas and Bangladeshis, who migrate to a peaceful country like ours. We may help them in the name of humanity but we must shield our Malaysian brothers and sisters from danger.

Courtesy of New Sunday Times

31 May 2015