As Malaysia ’s economy reopens after more than 90 days of a movement control order to stem the spread of Covid-19 , the nation’s treatment of its millions of migrant workers has come under close scrutiny. Frequently employed in jobs labelled “3D” – dangerous, dirty and difficult – migrant workers are more vulnerable to the spread of the disease due to cramped living conditions and poor workplace practices, watchdogs say. Construction sites are of particular concern as the push for the government to resume large-scale infrastructure projects intensifies. In May, after several sites were isolated as Covid-19 clusters, the nation’s top health official said employers had to take a more hands-on role in protecting employees. “Our efforts to fight Covid-19 will be in vain unless there is compliance of the standard operating procedures [SOPs] at the workplace and accommodation. Efforts to resolve the living conditions of foreign workers need to have the cooperation of all parties and [need to be] done holistically and comprehensively,” said health ministry director general Noor Hisham Abdullah. Coronavirus: hundreds arrested as Malaysia cracks down on migrants in Covid-19 red zones Although many construction workers have undergone Covid-19 tests – covered by the nation’s social security organisation as long as employers are contributors – many workers still fear outbreaks, while others complain of being confined to their quarters. Undocumented workers have to pay for the tests themselves, activists say, despite many workers losing legal status due to unscrupulous employers failing to renew their work permits. A Covid-19 test can cost up to 400 ringgit (US$93). “Employers are not willing to take them on for work if no tests are done. This means that they must bear the costs and they are also still vulnerable to arrest,” said Sumitha Shaanthinni Kishna, director of migrant legal rights group Our Journey. Although the country has for several days recorded infection numbers in the single digits, many workers are still worried about outbreaks, or worse, being placed in detention centres. Malaysia saw a surge in cases in such centres after a month-long spate of immigration raids and arrests in May that was widely criticised by human rights groups for its indiscriminate measures including detaining refugees and minors. A recent Al Jazeera documentary on the arrests earned the ire of the government, with defence minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob on Monday demanding an apology from the news channel for its “lies”. “The government gave the same treatment to all foreigners, including those with official documentation and those without,” Ismail Sabri said at a press conference. “Those with documentation were treated in hospitals while the undocumented were detained in immigration detention centres and screened there. We didn’t leave them to become infected and die.” Coronavirus: Malaysia’s law delay on improving migrant worker housing criticised Home minister Hamzah Zainuddin also came out swinging in defence of the nation’s immigrant policies, saying the measures carried out during the national lockdown were legal. “Although the foreign news agency stated that we were harsh and hard, I feel that was what the people wanted. The people wanted the government to be firm on those who did wrong,” he told state media on Monday. It was reported that the police have opened an investigation into the news channel, the latest in a slew of crackdowns on reports and statements critical of the government made by journalists, civil society, and normal citizens. Due to a combination of Covid-19 SOPs taking time to implement as well as a shortage of labour and financial issues, only an estimated 23 per cent of construction sites have reopened, though the authorities are working to increase this number. The SOPs include mandatory temperature checks, the provision of hand sanitiser, social distancing and various government approvals. The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) has issued warnings to scores of construction sites found in breach of the SOPs, with 495 construction sites having been issued warnings for non-compliance while 19 have been shut as of this week. “The regulatory bodies keep checking on construction sites, so even though there are those in breach the majority are following the SOPs because they are scared of having the site closed,” said Master Builders Association Malaysia president Foo Chek Lee. “On top of that, workers staying in quarters have had their movements restricted – [they are only allowed] from home to the site to home again. Many sites are not allowing workers to leave the area, or visitors to enter the site.” However, workers groups have insisted that the regulations do not provide sufficient protection. “The current guidelines do not place enough emphasis on worker safety, and allow employers excessive leeway to put in place inexhaustive SOPs that may put workers at risk of contracting Covid-19,” said Apolinar Tolentino, Building and Wood Workers International’s regional representative for Asia-Pacific. The restricted movement, financial woes from months of lost income during the lockdown, and the abrupt return to work have left some workers confused and afraid. Bangladeshi construction worker Faisal* said while he was “very scared” of the coronavirus, he had no choice but to work as he received no wages while businesses were closed and people ordered to shelter at home. “We don’t always have enough masks, but there’s sanitiser. I have only a little money left so I must work, but even then only a small portion of salary has been paid out,” he said. This was echoed by Yaacob*, who works on a different site. “Salary has not been paid for over a month. We are struggling so we must just face any virus fears,” he said. *Names have been changed to protect identities