(This story, published November 14, 2021, corrects paragraph 1, to clarify headline: contracts placed on hold, and not paused imported.

KUALA LUMPUR – Canada placed a hold on its contract with Supermax Corp, a Malaysian glovemaker. It is waiting for the audit results. The move comes weeks after Supermax Corp was banned by the United States over claims that it uses forced labour.

Malaysian manufacturers of everything, from palm oil to medical gloves, are increasingly being investigated for abuses by foreign workers.

Canada’s Public Services and Procurement department announced Wednesday that it had suspended Supermax imports from the United States. It was waiting for a mid-month report from Supermax Healthcare Canada.

In a statement, the department stated that Canada reached out to Supermax Corp “in light of the present situation” in an effort to get assurances.

Supermax has not yet responded to my request for comment.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection has issued an “Withhold Release Order” Oct 21. It prohibits Supermax imports based on reasonably available information that shows the use of forced labor in its manufacturing processes.

Supermax said that the agency was in communication with it to gain more clarification and that the company had appointed an independent firm to perform an audit of the foreign worker status at its factories.

Canada stated that it would decide its next steps following review of the Supermax Canadian Unit report.

It stated that the Government of Canada was committed to not doing business with any companies using unethical practices either in their own supply chains or directly.