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U.S. bans imports from fifth Malaysian firm in 15 months over alleged forced labour -Breaking

by Mike Robinson

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© Reuters.

KUALA LUMPUR, (Reuters) – The U.S. Customs Authorities have banned the import of Smart Glove rubber glove manufacturer from Malaysia. This ban is in response to alleged forced labor practices. It’s the fifth such ban on a Malaysian company within the last 15 months.

According to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection, “Withhold Release Or” was issued by CBP that prohibited imports from Smart Glove and other companies. The CBP stated in a Thursday statement that it had gathered reasonable evidence that Smart Glove’s production facilities use forced labor.

Smart Glove (a manufacturer of gloves for the food and medical industries) did not respond immediately to our request for comment.

Malaysian factories that produce palm oil, medical gloves, and Apple (NASDAQ) iPhone components have come under greater scrutiny from workers and rights groups. These facilities are subject to abuse by foreign employees who make up a substantial portion of Malaysia’s workforce.

The CBP stated that it had identified seven out of 11 indicators for forced labor at Smart Glove as a result of its investigations, however, did not specify which.

ILO indicators are excessive hours, living conditions, poor debt, abuse, and financial bondage.

The United States banned another glove maker https://www.reuters.com/world/us-bars-malaysian-glove-maker-supermax-over-alleged-labour-abuses-2021-10-21, Supermax Corp, over similar allegations last month. Supermax said that it would speed up an ILO-compliant process that began in 2019.

CBP barred Supermax’s Malaysian competitor Top Glove, the largest maker of latex gloves in the world, over similar claims last July. The ban was lifted last month https://www.reuters.com/business/malaysias-top-glove-says-cleared-resume-business-with-us-2021-09-10 after the company resolved the labour issues.

CBP has also banned FGV Holdings and Sime Darby Plantation, palm oil producers.

FGV and Sime Darby have appointed auditors for an audit of their operations and both said that they will work with the CBP on the issues raised.

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