“In fact today, my officers are on the ground to monitor payment of wages in respect of WRP Asia Pacific involving 1,400 people – foreign workers in particular,” he said on the sidelines of the ministry of human resources’ open day.

“We are there to ensure that wages are really paid today by the liquidators. We are also monitoring other developments with respect of wages,” he added.

After an investigation, the Labour Department had found that WRP Asia Pacific had withheld the salaries of its workers, did not pay them overtime wages and had made unfair pay cuts.

WRP’s problems arose after its exports to the United States were banned by the US Customs and Borders Protection in September following charges that its gloves were produced, in whole or in part, using forced labour.

Subsequently, the company received an emergency shareholders injection of RM3.25 million last week to pay its workers, 2,000 of whom held a three-day strike after claiming their wages were withheld for months.

Apart from complaints about Bangladeshi and Nepali workers being in bondage, WRP Asia Pacific was also accused of imposing wrongful working hours during breaks and public holidays.

In a statement released last week, WRP’s board of directors said it was working closely with interim liquidators, employees and other stakeholders to revive the company to its full potential.

“This is not just for the greater good of the company and the industry, but more importantly for Malaysia, given that our country is the largest glove maker in the world and we have to do everything possible to uphold that position,” said the board’s lawyer, Mathew Thomas Philip, in the statement.