PAYING tribute to one’s workforce rhetorically may not do the trick anymore as Top Glove Corp Bhd has learnt the hard way.
Today, the world’s largest glove maker has pledged further investment to improve the living condition of its workforce.
This ironically came after it reported a 20-time jump in its 1Q 9/FY2021 net profit to RM2.4 bil from the same period a year ago and doubled that against the previous quarter of 4Q FY9/2020.
Top Glove Corp Bhd which has been embroiled in the workers housing woes controversy amid the persistent high rate of positive COVID-19 cases among its workers has earmarked about RM100 mil to improve the quality of workers’ facilities and accommodation.
The investment will be channelled towards the construction of mega hostels in Selangor (Klang and Banting) with a combined capacity of 7,300 pax with fully equipped amenities and facilities.
“The capex for the new mega hostels is around RM70 mil and the hostels are expected to be ready by 2022,” the world’s largest glove maker pointed out in a media statement.
“The group is also building and acquiring additional houses, apartments and hostels in other states where it has operations.”
Not only that the enhanced movement control order (EMCO) at its worker dormitories in Meru (which should have ended on Nov 30) has been extended for another 14 days till Dec 14, Top Glove also found itself committing various offences under the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446).
The has led to the Ministry of Human Resources (MoHR) opening 19 investigation papers against six companies related to Top Glove following enforcement operations in five states, namely Perak, Kedah, Kelantan, Negeri Sembilan and Johor, amid the spread of COVID-19 in the Teratai Cluster.
Top Glove said efforts to source for more worker accommodation and to improve existing accommodation have been ongoing in consideration of the large number of workers for which the group has already invested RM70 mil.
Additionally, the glove maker has spent some RM20 mil on purchasing 100 units of apartments over the past two months and is also renting more houses for its workers.
“We have performed well this quarter and much of the credit must go to our dedicated workforce of 21,000 who have worked very hard, smart and fast to ensure our gloves reach those who need it the most, despite several operational challenges,” noted Top Glove managing director Datuk Lee Kim Meow
This comes in a media statement accompanying Top Glove’s record breaking financial feat. – Dec 9, 2020
