U.S. Customs and Border Protection said that the ban is based on reasonable evidence of forced labor at Smart Glove facilities in Malaysia. File Photo by Yuri Gripas/UPI | License Photo
Nov. 5 (UPI) -- The United States has barred all imports of products made by a Malaysian glove company, officials said because of the company's culture of forced labor in the Southeast Asian nation.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Thursday that it's issued a Withhold Release Order for Smart Glove, a Malaysia-based conglomerate that produces gloves for the medical and food industries and owns a number of subsidiary companies.
The agency said the ban is based on reasonable evidence of forced labor at Smart Glove facilities.
"In the past two years, CBP has set an international standard for ensuring that goods made with forced labor do not enter the U.S. commerce," CBP Acting Commissioner Troy Miller said in a statement.
"Manufacturers, like Smart Glove, who fail to abide by our laws will face consequences as we root out this inhumane practice from the U.S. supply chain."
The agency said it identified several indicators of forced labor established by the International Labor Organization. It didn't specify which indicators were noted, but the ILO lists excessive hours, debt bondage, physical and sexual violence and abusive conditions as some of its 11 signs of forced labor.
Smart Glove is the fifth Malaysian company over the past 15 months to receive such a CBP ban.
Malaysia's Smart Glove says it opposes forced labour after U.S. import ban
Fri, November 5, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Smart Glove on Saturday said it was opposed to forced labour and committed to the well-being of its workers, after the United States banned imports from the rubber glove maker for alleged forced labour practices.
On Thursday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a "Withhold Release Order" https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-bans-imports-fifth-malaysian-firm-15-months-over-alleged-forced-labour-2021-11-05 prohibiting imports from Smart Glove and its group of companies, citing what the CBP called reasonable evidence that indicates "Smart Glove production facilities utilise forced labour".
Smart Glove, which makes gloves used in the medical and food industries, became the fifth Malaysian firm in 15 months to be slapped with such a ban.
In an emailed statement, Smart Glove said it had contacted CBP to obtain more information about the ban and that it would look to resolve the action.
"Smart Glove stands against forced labour and is committed to all of our workers' health, safety and well-being; and we remain dedicated to their welfare," it said.
Malaysian factories - which make everything from palm oil to medical gloves and iPhone components - have come under increasing scrutiny over allegations of abuse of foreign workers, who form a significant part of the manufacturing workforce.
Smart Glove's peers have also faced similar U.S. action over alleged labour abuses.
Supermax Corp, banned last month https://www.reuters.com/world/us-bars-malaysian-glove-maker-supermax-over-alleged-labour-abuses-2021-10-21 has said it will speed up a process it had begun in 2019 to meet International Labour Organisation standards on workers' welfare.
Top Glove - the world's largest latex glove maker - was barred by the CBP 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.
(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
Fri, November 5, 2021
KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Malaysia's Smart Glove on Saturday said it was opposed to forced labour and committed to the well-being of its workers, after the United States banned imports from the rubber glove maker for alleged forced labour practices.
On Thursday, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a "Withhold Release Order" https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/us-bans-imports-fifth-malaysian-firm-15-months-over-alleged-forced-labour-2021-11-05 prohibiting imports from Smart Glove and its group of companies, citing what the CBP called reasonable evidence that indicates "Smart Glove production facilities utilise forced labour".
Smart Glove, which makes gloves used in the medical and food industries, became the fifth Malaysian firm in 15 months to be slapped with such a ban.
In an emailed statement, Smart Glove said it had contacted CBP to obtain more information about the ban and that it would look to resolve the action.
"Smart Glove stands against forced labour and is committed to all of our workers' health, safety and well-being; and we remain dedicated to their welfare," it said.
Malaysian factories - which make everything from palm oil to medical gloves and iPhone components - have come under increasing scrutiny over allegations of abuse of foreign workers, who form a significant part of the manufacturing workforce.
Smart Glove's peers have also faced similar U.S. action over alleged labour abuses.
Supermax Corp, banned last month https://www.reuters.com/world/us-bars-malaysian-glove-maker-supermax-over-alleged-labour-abuses-2021-10-21 has said it will speed up a process it had begun in 2019 to meet International Labour Organisation standards on workers' welfare.
Top Glove - the world's largest latex glove maker - was barred by the CBP 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.
(Reporting by A. Ananthalakshmi; Editing by Kenneth Maxwell)
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