Recommends BOI enterprises provide dedicated boarding houses for employees given likelihood of longer term prevalence of COVID-19
Health Services Director General Dr. Asela Gunawardena has issued a new set of guidelines to be followed when Board of Investment (BOI)-approved enterprises get their employees to work following the outbreak of the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Via letter dated 11 November, BOI Director General Sanjaya Mohottala has been informed of the new guidelines and accordingly BOI has communicated same to all approved enterprises.
Dr. Gunawardena has said considering the current COVID-19 outbreak situation in the country, it was important to protect the employees from the infection for uninterrupted functioning of enterprises under the purview of the BOI.
“As the COVID-19 pandemic situation may continue for at least another two to five years, it is strongly recommended to provide dedicated boarding houses for employees in enterprises,” Dr. Gunawardena said in his memo to the BOI.
“This will enhance resilience and continuity of business, which will contribute to economic growth. Therefore, enterprises are advised to develop short term and medium-term plans with establishment of dedicated accommodation facilities/ boarding houses, as an essential requirement for protecting the health of workers as well as organisational well-being,” he added.
However, considering the need of getting down workers from shared boarding houses in the current context for functionality of enterprises, the following guidelines should be strictly adhered by the respective enterprises as a temporary measure. These guidelines are to be followed when getting down employees from their places of stay, to the respective enterprises. Strict adherence to these guidelines must be ensured by the respective enterprises.
Irrespective of the place of accommodation the management shall ensure that the following categories of employees will not be allowed to work:
• Employees testing positive for COVID-19 and undergoing treatment and subsequent 14 days’ home quarantine as per protocol according to health guidelines.
• Employees identified as close contacts (first line contacts) undergoing quarantine at home or in any other place approved by the Ministry of Health.
• Employees residing in houses/boarding houses, with a member identified as a close contact (first line contact) undergoing quarantine, even if the employee concerned is not a close contact (first line contact).
The employees belonging to the above-mentioned categories can resume work following receipt of the quarantine completion certificate issued by the Medical Officer of Health (MOH).
However, employees residing in houses/boarding houses with a member undergoing home quarantine for a period of 14 days following discharge from hospital after treatment for COVID-19, can report for duty.
The following categories of employees can be allowed to work strictly adhering to health guidelines
Employees residing in non-locked down areas
• Employees residing in their own houses
• Employees residing in boarding places designated/dedicated for accommodation of employees of the same enterprise
• Employees residing in shared boarding houses, where accommodation facilities are shared with employees of other enterprises/workplaces
Employees residing in locked-down areas
• Employees residing in their own houses
• Employees residing in boarding places dedicated/designated for accommodation of employees of the same enterprise
It is mandatory to monitor temperature and COVID-19 symptom screening strictly, on daily basis for all staff categories irrespective of their place of stay. A list of employees reporting symptoms has to be sent to the area Medical Officer of Health (MOH)/ Public Health Inspector (PHI), immediately and prompt action should be taken according to their instructions.
Contact details of employees residing in shared boarding houses have to be documented in a separate register and they should be given necessary health guidance on COVID-19 preventive measures that should be practiced at their places of stay.
All other measures carried out by the enterprises for prevention and control of COVlD-19 shall be strictly adhered to and carried out continuously as per the guidelines already issued by the Ministry of Health.
(FT)