Hundreds Of Wrp Workers Demand Salaries Employment Status

---

In a state of uncertainty over company operations, hundreds of glove maker WRP Asia Pacific employees today gathered at its factory in Bandar Salak Tinggi, Sepang to demand answers over their unpaid salaries and employment status
The group, believed to be mostly from Nepal and Bangladesh, were among those affected by the company's recent move to temporarily suspend its production line
When contacted, a source from WRP Asia told Malaysiakini the group had requested to meet with interim liquidators appointed by the company
"They gathered at the parking lot near our lobby. The workers wanted more information from them (interim liquidators) but they were not here today

"A representative from the management (of WRP Asia) managed to persuade the workers to give them (interim liquidators) time until tomorrow," said the source, adding that the workers had dispersed about 5pm after several hours of waiting
The source further revealed that the interim liquidators were to meet with representatives of various embassies tomorrow to further discuss the status of the affected workers
It is understood that part of the workers' demand include settlement of their outstanding wages
On Saturday, Malaysiakini reported that the interim liquidators had issued orders for WRP's management to repatriate migrant workers whose work permits are due to expire by the end of this month
According to a document sighted by Malaysiakini, flight tickets for 57 workers from Nepal have been booked on Jan 6, Jan 8 and Jan 13
Malaysiakini understands that the figure does not represent a final list of workers to be repatriated as part of WRP's revival plan
"A group of them had also appealed to the interim liquidators, stating that they wanted to continue working here," said the source who clarified that the temporary suspension notice only affected new production of gloves
"Other work, including packing and shipping of stock, continues," the source added
In a company-wide circular to its employees and workers, WRP Asia on Dec 30 announced a "temporary suspension of business operations" — just three months after the US Customs and Border Protection agency announced it has banned imports from the company on suspicion of using forced labour
The company proceeded to appoint interim liquidators and on Thursday an emergency shareholders injection of RM3.25 million was channelled to enable the beleaguered company to pay its workers
The emergency cash was pumped by private equity fund TAEL Partners, the WRP board of directors said in a statement issued by its legal representative Thomas Philip Advocates and Solicitors
Sources, however, claimed the funds could not be used to pay foreign workers, who were allegedly under the payroll of WRP Asia's sister companies
In January last year, nearly 2,000 WRP Nepali workers held a three-day strike over months of unpaid wages
The Labour Department found that it withheld the salaries of its workers, had not paid overtime, made unfair pay cuts and had imposed wrongful working hours during breaks and public holidays. - Mkini

---