11/24/2020, 10.02
MALAYSIA
Send to a friend

Malaysia, world’s top latex glove producer closes due to Covid infections

At least 2500 infected employees out of 5800 tests for Top Glove, the world’s most important manufacturer of latex gloves. In recent months, record earnings due to the increase in demand for personal protective equipment. The conditions of the workers, mostly immigrants from Nepal, are being blamed. In the past the company was accused of labour exploitation by activists and NGOs.

Kuala Lumpur (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The most important latex glove manufacturer in the world will have to close more than half of its factories after a mass screening revealed the infection of over 2,500 employees.

In an attempt to contain the infection, the Malaysian company Top Glove has been forced to stop the activity of at least 28 plants scattered throughout the territory.

This year, the company recorded a record turnover, a consequence of the skyrocketing worldwide demand for personal protective equipment (PPE), such as gloves and masks, with the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, following the announcement made this morning, the shares fell by 7.5%.

The Malaysian Ministry of Health has seen a dizzying growth of cases in the areas surrounding the factories and dormitories of Top Glove. The company, which has 41 centres across the country, has run a swab tracing test on 5,800 people; of these 2453 were positive. Most of its workers are immigrants from Nepal and live in precarious conditions in unhealthy and overcrowded dormitories.

Director general of the health department Noor Hisham Abdullah reports that "all the people who tested positive have been hospitalized and their closest contacts quarantined, to avoid further infections among workers".

In recent months, the Top Glove has been subjected to heavy criticism for the working conditions inside the factories. In July, the United States stopped imports of gloves at two branches, following allegations of forced labour with 72-hour work weeks, cramped living conditions and low wages.

TAGs
Send to a friend
Printable version
CLOSE X
See also
"We are optimistic," says Paul Bhatti as Rimsha Masih's bail hearing postponed to Friday
03/09/2012
For Fr Tom, abducted in Yemen, Holy Thursday prayer and adoration for the martyrs
21/03/2016 14:57
Catholic music to promote dialogue in Ambon, the city of sectarian violence
17/10/2018 13:29
White House to stop Beijing's "imperialist" policy in the South China Sea
24/01/2017 15:55
Tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang rise as Cold War fears cast a shadow over Korea
12/02/2016 15:14


Newsletter

Subscribe to Asia News updates or change your preferences

Subscribe now
“L’Asia: ecco il nostro comune compito per il terzo millennio!” - Giovanni Paolo II, da “Alzatevi, andiamo”