TOP Glove Corp Bhd has been sourcing for more accommodation for its workers and is expected to complete the process by the end of the month.

The company said this in response to news that it is under investigation by the Labour Department and is liable to prosecution for flouting the Workers’ Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act (Act 446).

“Top Glove wishes to clarify that efforts to source for more accommodation and to improve existing worker accommodations are ongoing, in view of the large number of workers we employ.

“We expect to complete the exercise of improving workers’ accommodation around December 31, 2020. This is in line with the government’s educational approach on employers in various sectors until the end of this year (2020), so that we can comply with Act 446,” it said in a statement.

It has also spent around RM20 million to purchase 100 units of apartments for workers over the past two months.

“This is in addition to having previously invested in 100 double-storey houses and hostels with full facilities including in-house canteen, automated teller machines, barbershops, and minimarts, worth an estimated RM50 million in total,” the company added.

Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia director-general Asri Rahman earlier today said 21 investigations papers have been opened on six Top Glove companies in five states, and the papers will be referred to the deputy public prosecutor for offences under Act 446.

A probe was launched into the company for non-compliance with health procedures after its factory in Klang was identified as the source of a Covid-19 cluster on November 7.

Asri said Top Glove could be fined RM50,000 for each offence under the Act, which came into force on September 1. 

Top Glove’s workers’ hostels in Klang are under the enhanced movement-control order to enable Covid-19 testing of all its workers. The order was to have expired yesterday but has been extended until December 14. – December 1, 2020.