US bans imports from another Malaysian glove maker
Malaysian glove maker Supermax Corporation has become the next company to be put on a banned list over alleged forced labour practices, the fourth Malaysian firm to face such a measure in the past 15 months, Reuters wrote.
Factories in Malaysia have increasingly come under scrutiny over allegations of abuse of foreign workers, who form a significant part of the manufacturing workforce.
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a “Withhold Release Order” that prohibits imports from Supermax based on reasonable information that indicates the use of forced labour in its manufacturing operations, the CBP said in a statement on October 20.
“With 10 of the 11 forced labour indicators identified during the course of our investigation, CBP has ample evidence to conclude that Supermax and its subsidiaries produce gloves in violation of US trade law,” said Ann Marie Highsmith, executive assistant commissioner at the CBP Office of Trade.
Excessive hours and abusive working conditions
The CBP was referring to forced labour indicators identified by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that include excessive hours, debt bondage, physical and sexual violence, abusive working and living conditions.
“Supermax is surprised that due consideration has not been given to the fact that corrective steps have started and improvements made to labour welfare,” the company said in a statement, adding that the US accounts for about 20 per cent of its total sales and that it will now take efforts to divert its products to other markets.
Supermax’s bigger Malaysian rival Top Glove, the world’s largest latex glove maker, was barred by the CBP over similar allegations last July. The ban was lifted last month after the company resolved the labour issues.
Palm oil producers Sime Darby Plantation and FGV Holdings have also been banned by the CBP in the last year over forced labour allegations.
Malaysian glove maker Supermax Corporation has become the next company to be put on a banned list over alleged forced labour practices, the fourth Malaysian firm to face such a measure in the past 15 months, Reuters wrote. Factories in Malaysia have increasingly come under scrutiny over allegations of abuse of foreign workers, who form a significant part of the manufacturing workforce. The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a "Withhold Release Order" that prohibits imports from Supermax based on reasonable information that indicates the use of forced labour in its manufacturing operations, the CBP said in a statement...
Malaysian glove maker Supermax Corporation has become the next company to be put on a banned list over alleged forced labour practices, the fourth Malaysian firm to face such a measure in the past 15 months, Reuters wrote.
Factories in Malaysia have increasingly come under scrutiny over allegations of abuse of foreign workers, who form a significant part of the manufacturing workforce.
The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a “Withhold Release Order” that prohibits imports from Supermax based on reasonable information that indicates the use of forced labour in its manufacturing operations, the CBP said in a statement on October 20.
“With 10 of the 11 forced labour indicators identified during the course of our investigation, CBP has ample evidence to conclude that Supermax and its subsidiaries produce gloves in violation of US trade law,” said Ann Marie Highsmith, executive assistant commissioner at the CBP Office of Trade.
Excessive hours and abusive working conditions
The CBP was referring to forced labour indicators identified by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) that include excessive hours, debt bondage, physical and sexual violence, abusive working and living conditions.
“Supermax is surprised that due consideration has not been given to the fact that corrective steps have started and improvements made to labour welfare,” the company said in a statement, adding that the US accounts for about 20 per cent of its total sales and that it will now take efforts to divert its products to other markets.
Supermax’s bigger Malaysian rival Top Glove, the world’s largest latex glove maker, was barred by the CBP over similar allegations last July. The ban was lifted last month after the company resolved the labour issues.
Palm oil producers Sime Darby Plantation and FGV Holdings have also been banned by the CBP in the last year over forced labour allegations.
