The association said in a statement that it was grateful to the Government for allowing returning workers to be replaced for continuity purposes.

“The medical glove industry is always expanding to meet global demand, and while we have continuity, we must also continuously expand to ensure that Malaysia remains the world’s largest producer of medical and surgical gloves,” said president Denis Low Jau Foo.

Malaysia has about 106 manufacturing plants that last year produced some 120 billion pieces of medical gloves with an export value of RM13.1bil. Margma said the volume was expected to grow by 15% this year to hit 138 billion pieces.

“As the industry expands, it also requires more workers; and it is our fervent hope that the Government will consider holding back the freeze and allow the foreign workers to come in,” he said.

“We are duly worried of not being able to meet the world’s demand for this very necessary medical protective device if the workers are not available. There is an element of humanity here as our medical gloves are necessary protective devices in the healthcare sector.”

Margma ended its statement by saying that when a child is born into this world, the first thing that it touches is a pair of medical gloves, and most probably these gloves were made in Malaysia.