“TOP Glove (Corp Bhd) wishes to assure you and all stakeholders that it is committed to supporting national efforts to fight the ongoing pandemic by adhering to the Government’s MCO SOPs.”
Such is the written reply conveyed to FocusM which received a tip-off that the world’s largest glove maker has instructed all its engineering staff to return to work during the two-week movement control order (MCO) period which commences today.
The informant requested FocusM to investigate if such action is tantamount to failure to adhere to the latest movement control order (MCO) standard operating procedures (SOPs) given that Top Glove could have reduced its engineering staff strength by allotting at least 50% to work from office and 50% to work from home (WFH).
“There is an engineering office – one close space office with about 100-200 staff inside, which is very dense and (could) further elevate the COVID-19 risks,” noted the informant.
Given that Top Glove is in a labour-intensive industry – not to mention it does not have a good track record in the treatment of its foreign workforce – FocusM has decided to grant the glove maker a right to reply, which it did very promptly, to say the least.
Below is the full response from Top Glove:
“As a manufacturing company, Top Glove falls under the five essential economic sectors as per the directive released by the Government, and we are operating with approval from Ministry of International Trade and Industry (MITI).
In this instance, the Engineering Department at Top Glove falls under the essential support units under the manufacturing sector.
As such, we are following the Government’s protocol of allowing only 30% of management staff in the office at any one time.
Following the Government SOPs too, Top Glove’s engineering staff who are under the support unit category for an essential economic sector are to report to work as usual.
In this matter, the group’s heads of departments/heads of factories will assign the work schedule accordingly based on the needs of the business while strictly complying with COVID-19 preventive measures.
Please be informed that employees are also allowed to apply for annual leave and medical days – in accordance to their terms and conditions of employment – and as agreed with their respective heads of divisions/departments/units.
We hope this clarifies.” – Jan 13, 2021
