The Program Immunisasi Industri COVID-19 Kerjasama Awam-Swasta (PIKAS) programme announced on 12 June 2021 will be launched today in Selangor to be witnessed by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin accompanied by Senior
Minister and Minister of International Trade and Industry YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin Ali.
Apart from Selangor, vaccination for the manufacturing sector will also be initiated in Penang and Johor simultaneously that will focus on critical manufacturing sub-sectors. These sub-sectors are critical during the lockdown as they are part of the supply chain
of essential products and services including to support the smooth functioning of infrastructures such as the public health care system.
The PIKAS programme is implemented in response to calls from industry associations, business chambers of commerce and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to help accelerate vaccination for the Rakyat particularly employees to achieve herd immunity
in the community. This is imperative to protect workers against Covid-19 and reduce the number of workplace clusters as well as stop the transmission of infection among workers.
The implementation of PIKAS is crucial to safeguard workers as they constitute a critical component of the economic sector, which is the backbone to ensuring the economy recovers and to remain resilient. While PIKAS is implemented, the PICK vaccination programme for the most vulnerable groups remains a priority.
The Malaysian Trades Union Congress and other trade unions have expressed their support for the PIKAS programme and welcome its implementation to ensure workers’ safety. Nevertheless, they have also expressed concerns on the implementation of PIKAS by industry players, particularly on costs associated to vaccinate workers.
At a video conference with trade union representatives yesterday, YB Dato’ Seri Mohamed Azmin assured that workers who participate in the programme would not be burdened with additional cost. He reiterated that the vaccines are free and that the employers will bear the administrative cost of the vaccination and would not be allowed to deduct from employees’ salaries.
YB Senior Minister also said that the Government will ramp up vaccination in June, July and August with the target of reaching herd immunity according to the exit strategy as outlined in the National Recovery Plan announced yesterday by Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin. YB Senior Minister also urged employers to encourage their workers to participate in the PIKAS programme.
