RUBBER glove maker Smart Glove is the fifth Malaysian company to have its products banned by US authorities  in the last 15 months over allegations of employing slave labour.

In a statement published yesterday on its website, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said it had issued a “withhold release order” prohibiting the import of goods made by Smart Glove and its group of companies.

It said decision was based on reasonable evidence showing “Smart Glove production facilities utilise forced labour”.

The CBP said investigations showed Smart Glove had ticked seven of the 11 indicators for forced labour as defined by the International Labour Organisation (ILO) but did not say which ones.

Excessive hours, debt bondage, physical and sexual violence, and abusive working and living conditions are among the ILP’s indicators for forced labour.

It is the third Malaysian glove maker to have run afoul of the CBP after Supermax Corp and Top Glove.

Top Glove, the world’s largest latex glove maker, was barred by the CBP over the same charges. The ban was lifted after the company resolved its labour issues to the CBP’s satisfaction.

Supermax, which faced similar allegations, has said it is in the process of getting its labour practices up to ILO standards.

Malaysian palm oil producers Sime Darby Plantation and FGV Holdings were put on the CBP’s blacklist for similar reasons last year.

The two companies remain barred in the US and have said that they had appointed auditors to evaluate their practices and address the CBP’s concerns. – November 5, 2021.