Employees affected by WRP Asia Pacific's closure to receive claims and job support: KESUMA

The Ministry said that following a meeting with JTKSM, SOCSO, and PDRM, the liquidator has committed to helping the affected employees with salary and benefits claims, temporary contract offers, job matching, career guidance, and more.

The sudden shutdown of glove maker WRP Asia Pacific left 1,426 workers without jobs. In lieu of this, Malaysia’s Ministry of Human Resources has issued a statement that it is now working with the liquidator, the Peninsular Malaysia Manpower Department (JTKSM), the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) and the Royal Malaysian Police (PDRM) to sort out unpaid wages, benefits and job placement support, while seeking to safeguard both local and migrant workers caught up in the closure.

According to KESUMA, when WRP Asia Pacific shut down its operations in Sepang, Selangor, the 1,426 workers lost their jobs with immediate effect. Of those affected, 304 were local, while the remaining were foreign workers. 

The closure, confirmed in mid-April 2026 after complaints from employees, came with termination notices issued on 15 April.

To coordinate follow-up actions, JTKSM held a meeting on 17 April 2026 with the liquidator, SOCSO and PDRM, following which the liquidator has committed to the following measures for the affected employees:

1. Salary and benefits claims: All claims related to salary and termination benefits will be handled through the submission of a Proof of Debt (POD) form according to the prescribed procedures.
2. Salary status: Salary payment for March 2026 must be completed, while salary payment for April 2026 is in the process of preparing detailed documents by the human resources division, which was appointed on a contractual basis, for finalisation.
3. Temporary contract offer: Some local workers will be offered temporary contracts to handle essential work such as sorting documents, managing finances and maintaining factory equipment and assets.
4. Employment Insurance System (EIS) benefits briefing: SOCSO held a briefing session on benefits under the Employment Insurance System (Sistem Insurans Pekerjaan, or SIP) on 20 April 2026, to explain what support is available under the EIS, including temporary financial assistance for those who qualify.
5. Job matching: Through the MYFutureJobs portal, SOCSO is implementing a profiling process to identify employee skills and match them with available jobs from potential employers.
6. Career guidance: In addition to online job search assistance, affected employees will get access to career guidance and, if needed, counselling to help them cope with the job loss and prepare for new roles.
7. Welfare of foreign workers: The employer has assured the relevant parties that the welfare of foreign workers, including the provision of accommodation and food, will continue to be maintained until the relocation process is completed. At the same time, efforts are being made to facilitate the offer of employment by new employers to the foreign workers involved.

KESUMA said it will continue to monitor the development of this situation to ensure that employers and liquidators fully comply with the provisions of the country's labour laws.

"All appropriate measures will be implemented to protect the welfare and preserve the rights of workers, thus ensuring that the entire process runs orderly, transparently, and fairly," the Ministry added. 

In this regard, the Ministry has urged all parties to avoid speculation that could cause unnecessary concern while the documentation process and settlement of workers’ claims are still underway.

READ MORE: Layoffs and lifelines: How employers can better support employees through business restructuring or closures 

Lead image / WRP Asia Pacific YouTube