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Malaysia's Coronavirus Outbreak Puts 'Terrible' Migrant Worker Housing in
Spotlight

Zsombor Peter

   KUALA LUMPUR - Malaysia is pressing companies to quickly upgrade staff
   housing after a major outbreak of COVID-19 in the teeming dormitories
   for migrant workers providing the world with personal protective
   equipment, something labor rights groups had been warning of for
   months.

   The country counted a record 2,188 COVID-19 cases on November 24, most
   linked to company dorms for migrant workers at Top Glove, the world's
   leading latex glove maker.

   The next day, Defense Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob announced that
   authorities would start enforcing new worker housing rules right away,
   and imposing fines of some $12,300 for every employee in substandard
   accommodation.

   Human Resource Minister Saravanan Murugan followed up by calling some
   of the country's dorm conditions "terrible" after personally visiting a
   few sites. Days later, on December 1, his ministry announced 19
   investigations into six Top Glove subsidiaries, mostly for failing to
   furnish migrant workers with proper housing.

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