Top Glove to temporarily shut 28 factories as over 2,000 workers test positive for Covid-19

Sharanya Pillai

Published Mon, Nov 23, 2020 · 02:28 PM

MALAYSIAN glove-maker Top Glove will suspend operations at its manufacturing facilities in Meru, Klang. This comes as 2,453 of its workers have tested positive for Covid-19, a Malaysian senior minister revealed on Monday.

"On the advice and risk evaluation of the health ministry, it is agreed that 28 of Top Glove factories be closed in stages," Malaysia's Senior Security Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob said on Monday, Reuters reported.

In a Monday bourse filing after the minister's announcement, Top Glove said that it had already temporarily stopped production at 16 facilities in Meru, while the remaining 12 had been operating at "much reduced capacities". The firm has tested about 5,700 of its workers at hostels thus far.

"Top Glove will work closely and cooperate fully with the relevant authorities to implement the temporary stoppage by stages of our manufacturing facilities in Meru, Klang," the firm said in the filing.

Shares of Top Glove closed at S$2.39 on Monday, up 0.42 per cent, before the announcement.