Glove factory told to close

Squalid quarters: Saravanan (in dark mask) inspecting the living condition at the factory.

PETALING JAYA: A glove-manufacturing company in Kajang, Selangor, has been ordered to shut for seven days for failure to comply with Covid-19 preventative measures.

According to the closure order, the factory has been ordered to shut between Dec 24 and 30 as a move to help curb the spread of Covid-19 infections.

In a joint operation by the authorities, which was participated by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan, at the factory, the owner was found to have violated several laws after its workers were placed in two blocks of shipping containers.

The laws include the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act (Act 446).

The operation was conducted by the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM), Health Ministry and Hulu Langat Covid-19 compliance task force.

The Human Resources Ministry later released a statement saying that the factory hired a staff of 781 consisting of 759 foreign workers and 22 locals.

“Aside from the enforcement of the Act, the operation also probed whether the factory owner had complied with the standard operating procedure to prevent Covid-19, under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases Act 1988, which is within the purview of the Health Ministry, ” it said.

Saravanan said the joint raid was a proactive effort taken by the government to enforce the respective laws.

Meanwhile, Astro Awani reported Saravanan as expressing shock and sadness over the incident.

“I cannot believe such places exist in Malaysia and I’m not sure how they could live in such filthy and terrible conditions.

“I call this ‘modern slavery’ and employers need to ensure their workers’ welfare is protected.

“Local government should have already identified such places. If JTKSM did not come today, perhaps we wouldn’t have known about this place.

“I’m very sad to see such conditions, ” Saravanan was reported as saying after the raid.