Thumbs up to insurance scheme

KUALA LUMPUR: Foreign workers and employers support the new ruling on medical insurance coverage for foreign workers effective next year, but they want the government to give more details on the scheme.

They also said it was a good move for the workers to be insured. Restaurant owner Amutha Mayandie agreed that it was the employers' responsibility to pay for their workers' medical expenses.

"The mandatory coverage is a good idea, because some of the workers now do not have insurance," said Amutha, who has 24 workers from India, Indonesia and Nepal working in her restaurant in Bangsar here.

But she wants the Health Ministry to give more information on the insurance as she contributes RM75 for each worker per year under the foreign workmen's compensation scheme, paid out upon a worker's death. "I do not mind paying more for medical insurance for my workers. In fact, it could ease my burden as I do not have to worry about their medical expenses," she said.

A construction manager here said some of his workers were covered under the workmen's compensation scheme. He said the company only compensated those who were badly injured during work hours and needed emergency treatment. "We will abide with the new ruling although we have to fork out more. We will contact the ministry for details," he said.

Food chain restaurant manager Danny T.C. said the medical insurance was a good idea. "As for now, the company pays the compensation schemes for all our foreign workers. "If the medical insurance provides better coverage than this scheme, of course, we will not mind paying a little bit more," he said. Foreign worker Lorena Donayre, 40, has been working in Malaysia for the past 15 years, said her previous employers did not pay for her medical expenses. "The Malaysian government's decision to make medical insurance compulsory for all employers will definitely benefit us," said the Filipino currently working in a boutique here. She added that the medical insurance would also allow foreign workers to save more for their families back home. Health Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai had said on Thursday that there were more than three million foreign workers in the country employed mainly in the construction, plantation, manufacturing and services sector. Less than half were covered by the workmen's compensation scheme. He had said under the new ruling, all foreign workers must have a medical coverage with an annual premium of RM120.

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