The Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association  (MARGMA) supports the Government’s decision to streamline the management of foreign workers  under one single ministry, the Ministry of Home Affairs (KDN).

Establishing the Foreign Workers One-Stop Center (OSC) in Foreign Workers Management  Division under KDN, which already holds final approval authority over immigration matters, is a  good step towards reducing bureaucracy.  

We believe this move will significantly enhance efficiency and expedite processes for employers in  the rubber glove industry as well as other important sectors of the economy. This centralised  approach will hopefully enable businesses to respond faster to changes in conditions and operate  more efficiently especially in respect to processing of quota applications, extension of conditional  approval letters and more.  

The rubber glove industry in Malaysia is particularly reliant on a stable and efficient workforce to  meet the fluctuating demands of the global market. Our members have to be able to react swiftly  to market forces. During the Covid-19 pandemic, demand for rubber gloves surged and we  witnessed first hand the critical role foreign workers play in ensuring our industry's fulfilment of 

the global healthcare requirements.  

We recently saw that exports for rubber gloves in the first six months of 2024 surged 17.2% to a  total of RM6.8 billion (appx. USD 1.44 billion) as compared to RM5.8 billion (appx. USD 1.31 billion)  recorded in the same period last year. This underscores the growing need for a robust workforce  to support Malaysia`s exports as demand increases.  

The industry is striving for higher automation rates; however, the final phase remains the most  challenging. As we prepare for potential capacity expansion and increased production, timely  access to foreign workers is essential. We are optimistic that the OSC KDN will facilitate a smoother  application process, enabling employers like those in the rubber glove industry, meet their labour  requirements efficiently.

Malaysia’s rubber glove industry is a vital contributor to the nation’s economy, accounting for over  60% of rubber product exports. We are confident that this streamlined approach to foreign worker  management can create an environment that supports our member companies and contributes well to GDP and to the overall growth of the Malaysian economy.  

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