Glove Maker Two Subsidiaries Facing 30 Charges Up To Rm1 5m Fine

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Glove maker Brightway Holdings and two other subsidiaries are facing a total of 30 charges for various offences under the Workers' Minimum Standards of Housing and Amenities Act 1990 (Act 446), according to the Human Resource Ministry.
A guilty verdict for all 30 charges carries a total maximum fine of RM1.5 million or up to RM50,000 fine for each offence.
The ministry in a statement said the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia is in the process of completing its investigation papers and 22 charges will be filed against Brightway Holdings and its Klang-based subsidiary, Biopro (M) Sdn Bhd.
Meanwhile, the ministry said Brightway's Kajang-based subsidiary, La Glove (M) Sdn Bhd, is facing up to eight charges under the same act.
"Among identified offences include failure by the employer to receive a Certificate for Accommodation from the Labour director-general under Section 24D of Act 446.
"There were also breaches of regulations related to the provision of facilities that did not fulfil a minimum standard for accommodation as specified under the act," said the ministry.
The ministry's statement today came almost a week after Human Resources Minister M Saravanan took part in multi-agency raids at La Glove and Biopro factories.

During the raid at La Glove, it was discovered that hundreds of migrant workers were living in squalid conditions, cramped in shipping containers converted to makeshift accommodation.

Saravanan at the time said it was one of the worse living conditions he had ever seen.
A subsequent raid at Biopro, however, revealed an attempt to evade the authorities with all workers being moved to another location and there was evidence of a sudden clean-up.
Saravanan yesterday confirmed the information from sources that details of the raid were leaked to the factory owner.
La Glove was previously issued with a temporary shutdown notice while Biopro was fined RM1,000 by Health authorities for non-compliance to Covid-19 prevention guidelines.
Responding to initial reports that the factory had evaded a shutdown, the Human Resources Ministry today stressed its action is independent of the Health Ministry. - Mkini

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