COVID-19 | The government has ordered the public and private workers in management and supervisory positions in areas under conditional movement control order (MCO) to work from home starting Oct 22.

This will affect those in Sabah, Labuan, Kuala Lumpur, Putrajaya, and Selangor.

Defence Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said this is to keep Covid-19 cases in check by reducing the number of people working in offices and factories.

A list of sectors affected will be issued by the International Trade and Industry Ministry.

There will be exceptions for those involved in finance, making payments, enforcement, and welfare.

He said this will reduce one million workers – 800,000 in industrial sectors and 200,000 in public sectors - from going out to work.

Those who are exempted from the work from home order will need to have their companies issue letters to them, Ismail added. 

Meanwhile, employees living in red zones who need to go to the office will need to take swab tests.

The Social Security Organisation (Socso) will cover the costs of the swab tests for contributors, he said.

The red zones under conditional MCO as of yesterday are Petaling, Hulu Langat, Gombak, Klang and Kuala Langat in Selangor, as well as Beaufort, Kota Belud, Kota Kinabalu, Kunak, Lahad Datu, Papar, Putatan, Sandakan, Semporna, Tawau, Ranau, Tuaran, Keningau, Kudat, Tambunan, and Penampang in Sabah.

Ismail said the work from home order will be in force until the conditional MCO ends.