Foreign Workers Most Vulnerable To Dengue, Says Dr Fong

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 29 (Bernama) -- Companies employing foreign workers need to be alert on the health of their workers, especially those from non-tropical countries, because they are most vulnerable to dengue fever, Human Resources Minister Datuk Dr Fong Chan Onn said Thursday.
He said workers from countries where dengue had not occurred, such as Nepal, might not have the immunity to fight the disease.
"They are not exposed (to dengue) and most likely they are the vulnerable group. The management of the companies must take full responsibility for workers who are infected," he told reporters after opening a Human Resources Seminar here.
Dr Fong said he had asked the Department of Safety and Health to be more vigilant and to work with the Health Ministry and the local authorities in controlling dengue fever.
All the relevant safety regulations and laws would be enforced at all construction sites to ensure that they would not be breeding grounds for the Aedes mosquito, the carrier of the disease, he said.
Dr Fong said occupational safety and health officers of factories had been advised to inspect their work areas to ensure that there are no mosquito breeding grounds.
On another development, he said the government's programme to attract more Malaysian professionals working abroad to return home had not been very successful because of the not so attractive salaries offered in Malaysia.
He said that of the 300 applications approved, 200 people had returned to work in the country mostly in the medical, financial services and ICT sector.
The government was now focusing on those who wished to return to start up their own enterprises using their own ideas and technology to make Malaysia a base to market products or services to other countries, he said.