The
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a "Withhold
Release Order" that prohibits imports from Smart Glove and its
group of companies, the CBP said in a statement on Thursday, a
decision it said was based on reasonable evidence that indicates
"Smart Glove production facilities utilise forced labour".
Smart Glove, which makes gloves used in the medical and food
industries, did not immediately respond to a request for
comment.
Malaysian factories - which make everything from palm oil to
medical gloves and Apple iPhone components - have come under
increasing scrutiny over allegations from rights groups and
workers of abuse of foreign employees, who form a significant
part of the manufacturing workforce.
In its statement, the CBP said its investigation identified
seven of the 11 forced labour indicators set out by the
International Labour Organisation (ILO) at Smart Glove, but did
not say which ones were found.
The ILO indicators include excessive hours, debt bondage,
physical and sexual violence, abusive working and living
conditions.
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 has
said it will speed up a process it had begun in 2019 to meet ILO
standards.
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
https://www.reuters.com/
business/malaysias-top-glove-says-cleared-resume-business-with-us-2021-09-10
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.
Sime Darby and FGV have both appointed auditors to evaluate
their practices and said they would engage with the CBP to
address the concerns raised.
(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
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