Hotels and homes startup, OYO will offer temporary accommodation for workers in Malaysia following the recent spike in Covid-19 workplace clusters.
The move follows the gazetting of the Emergency Ordinance (Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities) 2021 (Act 446) requiring workers dormitories to comply with standards set by the Department of Labour (JTK) throughout the country.
A pilot programme was executed by OYO with several multinational companies like Panasonic and Cadbury which used OYO hotels as temporary accommodation for their employees in areas that were recording high numbers of cases.
Additionally, the move also ensured that businesses experienced minimal or no disruption to their operations.
Head of OYO Malaysia, Tan Ming Luk has said that as a provider of essential services and a stakeholder in the tourism and travel industry, OYO has an added responsibility to ensure those who need clean-living spaces have access to them.
“We know that workplace clusters, especially among those living in worker housing, is a major concern. Budget hotels like those in OYO’s network are well-positioned to complement existing worker housing to ensure sufficient physical distancing.
“Everyone needs affordable accommodation that complies with strict cleanliness and sanitation protocols, where staff are trained in safety and health protocols when serving guests,” he added.
OYO also has continued to enhance public-private partnerships in Malaysia and was selected by the JTK in Johor to provide temporary accommodation to workers in Masai and Plentong.
“We look to drive more public-private collaboration to support the next phase of recovery as the nation works together to triumph over this adversity.
Our effort reflects the organisation’s culture and values, which we hope will spur other budget hotel operators in Malaysia to support efforts by the Ministry of Health to reduce the number of workplace clusters in the country,” concluded Ming Luk.
Earlier this year, the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture (MOTAC) together with the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) to implement the temporary accommodation initiative for workers to be housed in hotels, in accordance with the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446).
MOTAC said the initiative was the best alternative in which could indirectly help the business continuity of hotel operators affected by the outbreak.
“The government’s proactive efforts are aimed at tackling the spread of the Covid-19 outbreak caused by workplace clusters, especially those involving workers’ accommodation,” the ministry said.
Readers who are seeking temporary accommodation for its workers can contact the OYO Careline at +6014 679 9778 or +6010 386 0380. Readers also can contact OYO’s support team via their chat line or email [email protected] for further guidance and assistance.
