Policy Framework: Providing Social Protection to the Frontline Healthcare Workers During the Pandemic (S/O 14696)

• Main Authors: Abdul Wahab, Harlida, Abdullah, Nor Anita, Abdul Rahim, Asmar
• Format: Monograph
• Language: English
• Published: UUM 2021
• Subjects: HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform
• Online Access: https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/31537/1/14696.pdf; https://repo.uum.edu.my/id/eprint/31537/
• Institution: Universiti Utara Malaysia

The coronavirus pandemic has evidently exhibited severe risks and hardhearted threats to the global economy and the social system of the societies. Its major impacts on the public health sector, health care services and the like, inclusive of their workers are obvious. Health care and medical services are essential where their interruption would imperil the life, health and safety of the whole nation. The menace of working in the healthcare industry, along with the repercussions of the COVID-19 virus have effects on the psychology, physiology and mental conditions of the health care workers (HCWs). Social protection as a human right is broadly designed to provide protection for individuals against economic and social distress. During the COVID-19 pandemic, social protection becomes the key element for social and economic resilience where its extension and modification is pragmatically exercised by many governments. This research adopts the social protection system aiming to safeguard the rights and welfare of healthcare workers. Using a doctrinal research method through a library research approach, this study focuses on the law and policy when considering the three elements of social protection namely the labour market policy that includes working conditions, social insurance and social assistance/welfare. The study recommends a pragmatic approach to the social protection system through the integration of these three elements to become a holistic policy to ensure the rights and welfare of HCWs are safeguarded amid the pandemic. It is anticipated that this approach will give effective protection to the HCWs for the sustainability of the healthcare workforce, the health industry as well as to strengthen Malaysia’s economy