Top Glove confirms death of 29-year-old worker from Covid-19

 

Glove manufacturer Top Glove has confirmed the death of Yamnarayan Chaudhary Tharu, the first of its employees to succumb to Covid-19.

This came after 5,450 infections were detected in the Teratai cluster, many of them workers at the company’s factories. It is now the largest active cluster nationwide.

The billion-dollar company has also come under fire for failing to adhere to minimum worker accommodation standards.

In a statement today, Top Glove confirmed that Yamnarayan died last Saturday (Dec 12).

“Yamnarayan, aged 29, from Nepal, passed away as a result of Covid-19 pneumonia with lung fibrosis.

“Yamnarayan had worked at Top Glove’s manufacturing facility in Meru, Klang for over two years.

“Top Glove offers our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to the family and loved ones of the deceased and is working with the authorities on his burial arrangements,” it said.

The company added that compassionate payment will be made to Yamnarayan's next of kin.

Yesterday, the Health Ministry reported the death of one non-Malaysian male at the Sungai Buloh Hospital from the virus. 

The patient had no pre-existing conditions and was referred to as death number 415 as well as case number 55,965. 

The ministry typically does not reveal personal details of Covid-19 patients.

It was previously reported that Yamnarayan worked as a security guard at one of Top Glove's Meru factories. 

He was said to have been admitted into hospital on Nov 21, about three weeks before his passing.

Tenaganita wants accountability

Migrant workers rights group Tenaganita regretted Yamnarayan's “preventable” death.

Glorene Das

The NGO’s executive director Glorene Das urged the government to take harsher action on Top Glove over the loss of life.

“They might be the highest-earning company in Malaysia but we hope they are held accountable for all their violations, including the sad death of the security guard.

“Investigation and fines are not enough for these forms of violations. The government must take harsher punishment against the company. 

"The company is nothing without their workers,” she told Malaysiakini.

Das was especially concerned about working conditions at the Bursa Malaysia-listed company.

“This incident could be prevented if Top Glove put their workers as a priority instead of commodifying them as a means to profit. 

"It is terrifying to read what has been going on in that company concerning the workers, not just the migrant workers but also locals, yet they continue to operate as usual,” she added.

Malaysiakini is contacting the Human Resources Ministry for comment.

The world's largest glovemaker made an RM2.38 billion net profit between Sept 1 and Nov 30. This is about 20 times the amount of its RM111.43 million profit in the same quarter last year.

However, Top Glove made headlines in recent weeks for breaking the law due to its unsanitary and overcrowded workers’ hostels.

The Labour Department has since opened 19 investigation papers against the company for breaching the Workers’ Minimum Standard of Housing and Amenities Act 1990.

US Customs and Border Protection previously imposed sanctions on exports from the company citing concerns over its workers’ housing conditions.

Top Glove has since admitted its faults and vowed to spend RM170 million to build better accommodation for its 21,000 workers - many of them foreigners. - Mkini