Top Glove responds to workers safety, accommodation issue

The world's largest producer of rubber gloves Top Glove Corporation has been in the spotlight after thousands of its workers tested positive for COVID-19.

On Monday, Top Glove confirmed the death of a Nepalese employee, Yamnarayan Chaudhary Tharu, due to the virus.

READ: Malaysia's Top Glove reports worker death due to COVID-19, first since outbreak at firm

Workers have described appalling living conditions in the dormitories where up to 25 people are cramped in a single room, sleeping in bunk beds. Some also claimed the company did not do enough to protect them despite repeated warnings.

The company is again in the spotlight after it was reported that an employee was terminated after he shared photographs proving a lack of physical distancing among factory workers.

READ: Malaysia's Top Glove fired whistleblower before virus outbreak

On Tuesday, Top Glove issued a statement to clarify the situation: Here’s what the company has to say.

On worker’s accommodation

• The company is working to source for more worker accommodation and steps to improve existing accommodation have been ongoing in consideration of a large number of workers, for which the Group has already invested RM70 million.
• The group said it spent RM20 million on purchasing 100 units of apartments over the past two months and is also renting more houses for its workers.
• Mega hostels to be built in Klang and Banting with combined capacity of 7,300 pax - expected to be ready by 2021.
• The company is also building and acquiring additional houses, apartments, and hostels in other states, which would cost about RM30 million.

On worker’s safety:

• Top Glove’s workers are entitled to a fully subsidised blood screening, basic vision and hearing assessments.
• The company has invested in two 24-hour emergency ambulances with trained paramedics.
• Top Glove has 8 full-time Corporate Nutritionists to support the comprehensive health and well-being of our workers.
• The company ensures the safety of its workers through the ‘Zero Harm and Safety Health Emergency Preparedness Program and a Workers’ Health Protection Programme’ providing designated First Aid Room and First Responders and Safety Health Officers.

On COVID-19 mitigation measures:

• The company works closely with authorities on scheduled closure and reopening in stages of its factories and ensures all strictly adhere to the required SOP.
• Implementation of COVID-19 preventive SOPs since the start of the pandemic.
• As of 13 December, 92 percent of its employees who underwent testing have recovered, including those tested negative and underwent quarantine periods from close contact tracing.