Malaysian labour rights groups have called for an investigation into the world’s largest glovemaker, Top Glove, after cases were uncovered of migrant workers toiling for long hours and working illegal overtime to pay off huge debts.
The Thomson Reuters Foundation revealed on Thursday that migrant workers at the Malaysian firm often work long hours to earn overtime pay, and in some cases exceed the limit of overtime hours allowed under national laws.
The company, which produces one out of every four pairs of rubber gloves used in the world, said it would investigate and cut ties with unethical recruitment agents and that it has this year introduced changes to ensure workers get adequate rest.
Yet a coalition of rights groups are demanding swift action from the government into the findings and have urged Top Glove to commit to further investigate their working conditions.
“The abuses within Top Glove are just a sad part of a much wider story,” said the Right to Redress Coalition, an alliance of 11 Malaysian migrant rights and anti-trafficking groups.
Workers at one Top Glove factory clock 90 to 120 hours of overtime work a month – with very few or no rest days – according to documents seen by the Thomson Reuters Foundation.
Under Malaysian laws, workers should be given a rest day each week and work no more than 104 hours of overtime a month.
Campaigners also urged Malaysia to review its minimum wage policy and introduce a living wage system to ensure workers do not have to work excessive hours to meet basic economic needs.
Top Glove workers have said they were paid a basic salary of at least RM1,000 – Malaysia’s current minimum wage.
Source: Daily Times
