Sikie: Timely screening protects public health

THE requirement in Sarawak for foreign workers to undergo medical examinations within 30 days of arrival serves as a frontline defence against imported infectious and communicable diseases, said Minister in the Premier’s Department, Datuk Seri John Sikie Tayai.

He said the requirement was crucial to protecting public health, with screening under the Sarawak Foreign Health Information System (SAFHIS) identifying 497 foreign workers with Hepatitis B and 119 who tested positive for tuberculosis.

“Our 30-day post-arrival medical examination mandate is not merely an administrative formality. It is our frontline biosecurity defence to protect the people of Sarawak from imported infectious and communicable diseases,” he said in his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly today.

He said workers identified through screening were prevented from proceeding through the work authorisation process in Sarawak.

Sikie said early detection helped prevent disease transmission and shielded the public healthcare system from avoidable strain and treatment costs.

“It also reinforced public confidence in economic sectors such as hospitality, tourism and food services,” he added.

However, he said some employers were delaying medical screening for newly arrived workers until the final days of the 30-day period.

“We have observed, however, that some employers delay sending newly arrived workers for screening until the final days of the 30-day grace period, which compromises early medical intervention,” he said.

On the financial implications for employers whose workers fail medical screening, Sikie said fees were not simply forfeited without recourse.

“Under the FWTA framework, a dedicated replacement mechanism allows any worker who fails the medical screening to be replaced within 60 days at no additional cost,” he said.

He said the replacement window, supported by an improved average application turnaround time of 40 to 43 days, was designed to protect compliant employers from financial loss while preventing misuse or prolonged use of replacement quotas.