Top Glove says has not been notified on Workers’ Housing Act penalty

KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 29): "We have not been notified and will continue to engage with authorities on this matter.” This was Top Glove Corp Bhd’s response today to theedgemarkets.com’s query on whether the authorities have notified the rubber glove manufacturer on the RM50,000-per-worker penalty imposed on companies for breaching the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) in Malaysia.

Top Glove did not elaborate on the matter in its statement today.

On Thursday (Nov 26), it was reported that the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia had on that day found a glove manufacturer in Ipoh, Perak to be in violation of the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act.

It was reported that the department’s labour standards director Mohd Asri Abdul Wahab said several offences were revealed during the raid on the company’s foreign worker hostel.

The news report, however, did not indicate the name of the company. “Among the offences were the company’s failure to obtain an accommodation acknowledgment letter from our department, overcrowding and unsanitary conditions,” Mohd Asri was quoted as telling reporters when met outside the hostel then.

On Friday (Nov 27), Top Glove confirmed in a statement that the department had visited the company’s Ipoh factory workers’ accommodations on Thursday.

"With regard to a visit by the Department of Labour of Peninsular Malaysia to our Ipoh factory workers’ accommodations yesterday (Thursday), we wish to inform that Top Glove will be extending its fullest cooperation to the relevant authorities.

"Top Glove wishes to clarify that we are in the process of improving the living quarters of our workers to meet the requirements under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446). Part of our efforts towards this for our workers in Ipoh, is the rental of eight units of new shoplot hostels. 

"Six have been occupied, while another two are in the process of being set up for workers. The exercise to move workers in, is ongoing and expected to be completed by early December,” Top Glove said.

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