BANTING – The country’s image has been tarnished after an import ban was announced by the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agency on Top Glove Corp Bhd’s disposable gloves, said Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan.
This CBP had yesterday directed all US ports of entry to seize disposable gloves produced by Top Glove after it found elements of forced labour in the company’s practices.
“If it is innocent, it should not be punished. Top Glove still has room to appeal to the CBP.
“I will not compromise with any party that abuses its workers,” he said after attending a meeting with Sime Darby Plantation Bhd workers here today.
Meanwhile, his ministry, in a statement, said that it has held a dialogue session with plantation workers to explain the workers’ housing project under the Skim Khas Pembiayaan Rumah Pekerja Estet (SKRE).
It said that SKRE is a government initiative involving a revolving fund for all eligible plantation workers by offering a soft loan facility with a low interest rate of 2% that can be applied for through Bank Simpanan Nasional.
SKRE aims to address issues of home ownership among plantation workers and to help homeless workers in the event of changes in plantation management or if a plantation is sold for development purposes.
The scheme is also among efforts to attract and retain local workers to work in the plantation sector and reduce dependence on foreign labour. – Bernama, March 30, 2021
