Report: Gov't loosens restrictions for glove makers

Malaysia has relaxed rules on rubber glove makers, allowing them to return to full-staff strength, with conditions, to meet urgent global demand in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to a report by Voice of America (VOA), the Malaysia Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (Margma) had informed its members on March 27 that glove factories could go back to operating 100 percent from April 1 onwards.

This followed a meeting with the International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti), which did not respond to VOA's request for comments.

The report said companies had to seek exemption from the movement control order (MCO) restrictions from the current 50 percent labour force restriction.

Companies will have to supply a complete list of workers and promise to stagger shifts as thinly as possible.

"I would say that the government has given us the opportunity to work at optimum, and by optimum we mean to say that we will be able to supply the 225 billion pieces of gloves which we think the world will need this year," said Margma president Denis Low.

It is uncertain if this move was related to lobbying by foreign governments for Malaysia to increase output. Malaysia is the biggest rubber maker in the world, making three out of every five gloves in the world.

EU welcomes move

According to financial newswire Responsible Investor, the European Union had written to Putrajaya, recommending "creative solutions" and "24/7 production" for glove makers.

EU ambassador to Malaysia Maria Castillo Fernandez told VOA that she welcomed Putrajaya's decision to loosen restrictions.

"We support the Malaysian government’s decision to allow essential goods manufacturers and their supply chains involved in the production of vital medical equipment to operate at needed capacity to meet the urgent global demand for these medical supplies," she said.

"Malaysia is the world's largest producer of medical exam gloves, and as such, it plays a very important role by contributing to avoid a shortage of this essential medical equipment, for Malaysia, for the EU and for the whole world," she added.

Previously, Margma had warned that restriction glove makers to 50 percent staffing would cause a shortage of gloves worldwide as countries grapple with the deadly Covid-19 outbreak.

Malaysian glove makers were also facing problems with sourcing packaging material, which could not operate under the MCO until recently. - Mkini