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Figure 6.14: Infographic on Work From Home Order
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(Source: BERNAMA )

6.2.6 Improving Living Condition

One of the factors highlighted earlier attributing to the high transmission
rates among foreign workers was the dire state of their living conditions.
Therefore, breaking the chain of infection among foreign workers was a
formidable task given their unhygienic and overcrowded accommodations.
Before the COVID-19 pandemic struck Malaysia in 2020, the Workers’
Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 or Act 446 had been
amended in 2019 to broaden the coverage of Act 446 from previously being
only applicable to estate employees to now including other employment
sectors as well, as a measure in addressing the dire living conditions of
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foreign workers. Due to the soaring of COVID-19 cases involving foreign
workers in the third wave, the Human Resource Ministry had started

STRIKING THE BALANCE BETWEEN ECONOMY AND HEALTH STRIKING THE BALANCE BETWEEN ECONOMY AND HEALTH 111
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