Top Glove factories resume operations with reinforced health and safety SOPs

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 6): Top Glove Corp Bhd said all of its 28 factories in Klang have resumed operations with stricter adherence to health and standard operating procedures (SOPs).

In a statement, the world's largest glove manufacturer stated that since it obtained the green light from relevant authorities to reopen all of its factories in Klang, the company has placed the well-being of its workforce as top priority with reinforced health and safety measures to ensure that its life-saving gloves reach those who need them the most.

"Top Glove wishes to assure our stakeholders that we are taking all steps towards ensuring stricter adherence to safety SOPs at our factories, offices, accommodations, and vehicles, and that we will remain vigilant in our efforts to ensure the safety and well-being of our employees and the communities we serve," it noted.

Top Glove said the health and safety measures being taken include daily disinfection of the entire premises, especially of common areas, with sanitisation of internal areas conducted three times a day.

Also, it also ensures temperature screening and availability of hand sanitisers and face masks for all employees and visitors at the guardhouse, with the provision of disinfection floor mats at entrances to factories and offices,  provision of hand sanitisers in all common areas and provision of designated bins with lids for the safe disposals of used personal protective equipment (PPE).

"All Top Glove employees and visitors are also required to wear a mask while on the factory premises, and it is compulsory for cleaning personnel to don full PPE while conducting sanitisation and disinfection.

"Employees are also reminded to maintain a safe distance from others while at work and during their rest times, with clear social distancing markings. Top Glove has also put in place staggered break times for employees; employees are allocated specific time slots for breaks at designated areas to prevent overcrowding," said Top Glove.

Separately, Top Glove announced that all of the 12 resolutions tabled at its 22nd annual general meeting (AGM) have been approved and duly passed by shareholders.

"The result was validated by Commercial Quest Sdn Bhd, the independent scrutineer appointed by the company," Top Glove said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia today.

At the AGM today, Top Glove tabled 12 resolutions for its shareholders to consider and approve.

The first resolution was related to the re-election of Top Glove's director Datuk Lim Han Boon, while the second to sixth resolutions were related to the re-election of Tan Sri Rainer Althoff, Datuk Noripah Kamso, Datuk Dr Norma Mansor, Sharmila Sekarajasekaran and Andy Lim as directors, respectively.

The seventh resolution was for the payment of directors' fees for the financial year ended Aug 31, 2020 (FY20).

The eighth resolution was for the payment totalling RM300,000 for fees and benefits to the non-executive directors, which will be valid from tomorrow (Jan 7) until the next AGM to be held in year 2022.

The ninth resolution was for the reappointment of Ernst & Young PLT as the external auditor until the conclusion of the next AGM and to authorise the directors to fix their remuneration.

The 10th resolution was to grant Top Glove's directors the authority to issue new shares, while the 11th resolution was to approve the retention of Lim Han Boon as an independent non-executive director of the company.

The final resolution was to seek shareholders' permission on the company's planned renewal of share buy-back authority, which shall not exceed 10% of the total number of issued shares of the company.

The maximum amount of funds to be utilised for the proposed share buy-back shall not exceed the aggregate retained profits of the company based on its audited financial statements for FY20 of RM3.13 billion.

On the first resolution, Top Glove said Lim Han Boon was re-elected as a director of the group with 72.35% of shareholders voting in favour, while 27.66% voted against.

At the same time, Top Glove said 84.84% and 84.21% of shareholders voted in favour of the second and third resolutions, thus retaining both Rainer Althoff and Noripah Kamso as directors.

The remaining directors Norma Mansor, Sharmila Sekarajasekaran and Andy Lim also won the majority votes, with voting rates in favor at 84.87%, 86.27% and 86.55%, respectively.

As for the seventh to 10th resolutions, Top Glove said the majority of shareholders approved the payment of directors' fees, benefits to the non-executive directors, reappointment of Ernst & Young as well as the resolution for its directors to carry out their respective mandates.

Meanwhile, 81.54% of shareholders voted to approve the retention of Lim Han Boon as an independent non-executive director of the company while 89.08% of shareholders voted in favor of the renewal of share buy-back authority.

At 2.35pm, shares price of Top Glove traded three sen or 0.52% lower at RM5.69, bringing it a market capitalisation of RM45.81 billion. There were 31.67 million shares exchanging hands.