TOP GLOVE CHARGED WITH NOT PROVIDING CERTIFIED ACCOMMODATION
Manufacturer charged with failure to provide lodgings certified by Labour Dept
RUBBER glove manufacturer Top Glove Sdn Bhd was charged in the Sessions Court here yesterday with 10 counts of failing to provide workers’ accommodation certified by the Labour Department (JTK) last November.
The company, which was represented by its director, pleaded not guilty to all charges before Judge Norashima Khalid.
According to the charges, the company was alleged to have provided their foreign workers with accommodation that was not certified with a Certificate of Accommodation from the JTK directorgeneral, as required under Section 24D(1) of the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990.
The offences were allegedly committed at 10 different locations at Pusat Perdagangan Tasek Mutiara here, between 9am and 1.30pm on Nov 26 last year.
The charges were framed under Section 24D(3) of the same Act which provides for a fine of not exceeding RM50,000, if found guilty.
Deputy public prosecutors Siti Syakimah Ibrahim and Zaihas Mohd Syakir Hasfar prosecuted the case while the company was represented by lawyer Chew Jee San.
The court set April 28 for remention.
Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan had previously said that 59 employers would be charged this month under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) (Amendment) 2019.
He said the authorities had already opened 124 investigation papers.
Prior to its amendment in 2019, Act 446 encompassed only the housing and accommodation of workers in the plantation sector for plantations exceeding 20ha in size, as well as the mining sector.
The act now spans all sectors and incorporates new regulations on workers’ housing standards and amenities.
During the enforcement of Act 446 under the Emergency Ordinance, a total of 3,256 employers involving 17,576 accommodation were inspected between last Feb 26 and March 11.
The Emergency Ordinance that came into effect from Feb 26 had, among others, required employers and workers’ centralised accommodation providers to provide temporary accommodation for the workers when the present accommodation was deemed unsafe or unsuitable.