Glove maker Brightway, subsidiaries to face 30 charges over worker housing

PETALING JAYA: Glove maker Brightway Holdings and two of its subsidiaries will be facing 30 charges under the Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446), says the Human Resource Ministry.

The ministry said the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia was in the process of completing investigation papers and that 22 charges would be filed against Brightway and its Klang-based subsidiary, Biopro.

The ministry said Brightway's Kajang-based subsidiary, La Glove would be facing up to eight charges under the same Act.

"Among the offences is the failure of the employer to obtain a Certificate of Accommodation from the director-general of the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia under Section 24D of Act 446.

"There is also a violation of the Regulations under Act 446 involving provision of facilities that do not meet the minimum standard specifications set," it said in a statement on Sunday (Dec 27).

If found guilty, the company may face a maximum fine of RM50,000 for each offence.

"All investigation papers are in the final stages of preparation before being submitted to the Deputy Prosecutor (TPR) Department.

The ministry noted that the RM1,000 compound issued to the company by the Klang District Health Office was related to the Prevention of Infectious Disease Prevention Act 1988.

It said this action was unrelated to the enforcement of Act 446 under the jurisdiction of the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia.

"The Ministry of Human Resources will not compromise on any breach or non-compliance under Act 446 and regulations under it.

The ministry also urged employers and centralised accommodation providers who have not yet made any Accommodation Certificate application to do so immediately to avoid legal action being taken against them.

On Monday (Dec 21), ministry officials conducted a raid on a glove-making factory in Kajang, just outside Kuala Lumpur, where they found workers living in cramped, dirty shipping containers stacked behind the premises.

Human Resources Minister M. Saravanan was reported as saying the ministry had enough evidence to enforce the rule of law.