In some instances, the demands to keep supply chains operating during
the pandemic took a toll on human lives.
This 7 December 2021 Bloomberg
article brings a human face to it in reporting on individuals who tragically
died working at the STMicroelectronics NV’s facility in Malaysia.
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Originally Posted by Yoolim Lee/Yantoultra Ngui Bloomberg
Hani Bin Sha’ari spent more than two decades rising through the ranks at STMicroelectronics NV’s facility in Malaysia. He prided himself on working hard to provide for his wife and four children. So when the chip plant remained open through a spike in Covid-19 infections this year, he kept doing his job.
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Hani was one of at least 20 workers at STMicro’s facility in the Malaysian district of Muar who died from Covid-19 after the delta variant raged through the country this year. The company kept its chip assembly and testing plant running while the virus was killing workers, as the company raced to meet surging demand from automakers and other customers. Authorities in Malaysia, like in many other countries, were concerned about keeping their economy on track during the pandemic and they granted chipmakers exemptions while much of the country locked down.
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While Covid-19 killed millions of people around the globe, deaths at the Muar facility were substantially higher than averages in the rest of the country and the world. One in 1,100 people in Malaysia died from the virus since the start of the pandemic, according to the country’s Ministry of Health, while it was at least one in 210 at the plant, according to Bloomberg News reporting. STMicro declined to comment on the specific number of workers who died at the Muar location.
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by Yoolim Lee/Yantoultra Ngui Bloomberg
The tragedy in Muar shows the little-understood human cost of keeping supply chains running in a pandemic. While politicians in Washington and Paris urge suppliers to step up production of semiconductors and government officials in countries like Malaysia give special exemptions to powerful corporations, employees like Hani put their lives at risk.
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Originally Posted by Yoolim Lee/Yantoultra Ngui Bloomberg
STMicro, run by Chief Executive Officer Jean-Marc Chery, faced extra pressures this year from politicians around the world who grew alarmed that shortages were shutting down auto plants and other factories. And of course, staying open benefits the company financially. The day Hani died, STMicro reported robust financial results that sent its stock to a record high.
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Story here :-
https://www.bloomberg.com/news/featu...malaysian-town