Imprisonment for SOP violators among amendments to Act 342 under review

KUALA LUMPUR:The Emergency Management Technical Committee will amend several provisions in the Prevention and Control of c 1988 or Act 342.

Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin said stricter and faster enforcement action had to be taken to ensure compliance with standard operating procedures (SOPs).

According to him, among the amendments are the immediate closure orders of business premises that do not comply with the rules and SOPs set.

Here are some other amendments that will be implemented:

Legal action against business owners, franchisees, franchise operators and other stakeholders in the business organisation chain.

Legal action against the foreign worker management chain that covers employers, worker supplier agents, key contractors, sub-contractors and individuals.

Higher compound action against repeat offenders or offenders who have been warned.

Imprisonment of offenders who violate the rules and SOPs.

Disciplinary action against civil servants who do not comply with the rules and SOPs, including the head of department related to the implementation of the Work From Home policy.

Muhyiddin added that the government is also in the process of amending the Minimum Standards for Housing, Accommodation and Employee Facilities Act 1990 or Act 446.

According to him, it aims to address employee housing management issues through stricter enforcement action.

Among them is making it compulsory for employers to:

Provide accommodation that meets the set standards.

Incur the cost of accommodation, relocation and employee health screening costs.

Implement monitoring measures on foreign workers while working on the work premises and after working hours at their accommodation.

Ensure that employee accommodation centre agents provide employee accommodation that meets the requirements and standards of public health set by the government.

"The Ministry of Human Resources will lead the Employee Accommodation Management Task Force which will have greater and comprehensive jurisdiction through the amendment of Act 446," he said in the Prime Minister's Special Message on Thursday.