M’sian Glove Factory Ordered To Close After Workers Found Living in Shipping Containers

Following the recent controversies surrounding Top Gl0ve, it seems that they aren’t the only glove company under fire due to inhumane practices lately.

Yesterday, local glove manufacturer LA Glove was raided by the Human Resources Ministry in Kajang district, just outside Kuala Lumpur after workers were found to be living in cramped, dirty shipping containers behind factory premises, reports Astro Awani.

A total of  781 workers were employed at the factory, many of whom are migrants, said a ministry spokeswoman.

Human Resources Minister S. Saravanan said that these were the worst living conditions he had ever witnessed and equated it to ‘modern slavery’.

“I don’t know how anyone could live like this,” he said in a broadcast by Astro Awani.

In a Facebook post, Saravanan that this act fails to comply with the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446) and that the JTK will continue investigating the matter in order to ensure workers’ welfare is guaranteed.

Brightway Holdings Sdn Bhd manager Alice Micheal has since confirmed that the raid had taken place but denied housing workers in shipping containers. She said that their workers were living in a three-storey building close to the factory but outside its boundary, as the company did not want employees to be exposed to COVID-19 and spread it among workers.

“There are only 450 workers, many of whom have hostels further away, but were brought into this building temporarily,” she explained.

LA Glove has been ordered to close their factories for seven days by health authorities, but Alice asserts that this was due to failure to comply with social distancing requirements and workers not wearing face masks correctly.

Also read: Top Glove Likely To Face Charges After MOHR Opens 19 Investigation Papers Against Companies