Government officials said Tuesday they have ordered the closure of a Malaysian-owned timber factory following the death of a worker last week and two recent fatal accidents.
The Barama factory will remain closed until authorities determine how a worker found near a veneer-cutting machine died, Labor Minister Manzoor Nadir said.
"Too many young people are dying at the workplace," he said. "Barama has had three deaths in the past year. This is unsatisfactory."
Company officials did not return calls for comment, and authorities did not provide details on the other two deaths, although they are believed to be accidents and are not being investigated by officials.
On Sept. 2, employees found the body of Jason Fraser, 30, at an idle plant whose machines were not being used. Authorities said he appeared to have been crushed, but not by the machine he was found beside. Nadir said he would not have fit through the machine's narrow opening.
"I am not satisfied with the police investigation," he said.
The plant where Fraser's body was found is located in the western region of the South American country.
Barama Company Limited has a concession of 1.6 million hectares (4 million acres).
