15 April, SETIA ALAM – The increased vulnerability of foreign workers in the Covid-19 crisis has compelled S P Setia to initiate the Setia Food Aid humanitarian effort for approximately 6,000 foreign workers working at more than 50 of its project sites across the country. This is one of the largest humanitarian initiatives the Group has rolled out in light of this pandemic in addition to the previously committed pledge of RM1.0 million to the Government-Linked Companies (GLCs) and Government-Linked Investment Companies’(GLICs) Disaster Response Network (GDRN) Collective Contribution and S P Setia Foundation’s RM500,000 donation of medical equipment and supplies to the Malaysian hospitals and front-liners.
Many of these foreign workers live from hand to mouth, and the Movement Control Order (MCO) has denied them of their only source of income, causing grave concerns on where their next meal will come from. The struggle to afford food has taken a toll on many of the foreign workers working at the construction sites. Their needs are now increasingly exigent, especially with the extension of the MCO which necessitated S P Setia to initiate this hardship humanitarian effort.
S P Setia provided dry rations such as rice, instant noodles, canned food, flour, salt, sugar and cooking oil to approximately 6,000 of its site workers across the nation. The food aid which started on 9 April 2020 will continue until the end of MCO or until they can commence work, whichever earlier. The company is expected to spend approximately RM500,000 weekly for this aid.
Setia welcomes NGOs, groups or individuals who, as part of their good intention to help, wish to donate food to the foreign workers. However, as advised by the Ministry of Health that everyone must play their role and comply with the MCO which was enforced to curb the spread of the virus, it is imperative that these intentions should be carried out in tandem with Setia Food Aid programme and delivered through proper channels for the safety of all involved including the foreign workers.
On the same note, the government has decided to allow several additional economic sectors to operate in phases on condition of strict adherence to health and safety guidelines. S P Setia will be submitting applications for several of its projects that meet the eligibility requirements listed and will be enforcing strict social distancing guidelines and practices for all including the foreign workers who will be working at those sites during this MCO period.