Top Glove takes measures to stem virus spread

PETALING JAYA: The management of Top Glove Corporation Bhd, the world’s largest producer of rubber gloves, has pledged to work closely with the authorities to address the surge in Covid-19 cases in its factories.

Its executive chairman, Tan Sri Lim Wee Chai, told reporters in a Zoom news conference yesterday that close cooperation with the authorities would help to determine the extent of the infection among its employees.

About 3,000 of the 4,036 Covid-19 cases reported in the Teratai cluster are Top Glove workers. The company has more than 21,000 employees in the country.

Lim attributed the high number of cases in recent days to more intense screening conducted in its facilities which have been placed under the enhanced movement control order from Nov 17 to Nov 30.

On Monday, a total of 1,511 new cases were detected in the Teratai cluster which had originated from Top Glove’s premises, according to the Health Ministry.

Lim also expressed confusion over a statement by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan that conditions in its workers’ dormitories were “deplorable”.

Lim said the company had already spent about RM20 million to improve conditions in its workers’ living quarters in compliance with the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act.

He said officials from the ministry had also inspected the dormitories after the US Customs and Border Protection banned imports from two of the company’s subsidiaries on suspicion of forced labour.

Lim also extended an invitation to Saravanan to visit its premises again. “Since his last visit, conditions have improved.”

Visuals of the “improved dormitories” were shown to the media yesterday on condition that they were not aired or printed for public consumption.

Top Glove managing director Datuk Lee Kim Meow, who was also at the media conference, said the company has made “major improvements” to its facilities.