THE UK’s National Health Service (NHS) will only procure Malaysian rubber gloves from producers who can issue a audit report showing they do not use forced labour, Malaysiakini reports.

Quoting the UK envoy for migration and modern slavery Andrew Patrick, the report said this was in accordance with the country’s new procurement framework.

“It’s a framework run by the Department of Health’s procurement experts who will be implementing it with firmness and I’ll be working with them.

“To actually get business, they need to meet the audit requirements.

“We have given our commitment to the British Parliament that we will do everything we can to eliminate forced labour from the supply of medical goods to the NHS,” he was quoted as saying in Malaysiakini.

Patrick met Putrajaya officials to address the risks of forced labour in the supply chains of goods to the UK earlier this week.

He also met with the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association to ensure compliance with the new procurement framework.

“We talked to manufacturers about the new measures and we want to make sure we can work with the manufacturers who can ensure there is no forced labour in that supply chain,” said Patrick.

“We discussed the new approach to procurement.

“We will be expecting manufacturers to be a lot more transparent with their operations and the UK government will also be able to conduct an audit on any company in the supply chain,” he said.

In recent years, the British media, politicians and public have raised major concerns on the use of forced labour by Malaysian glove makers.

It is estimated that the UK government buys 5% of Malaysia’s total rubber glove exports, entirely for the NHS.

Malaysian glove makers have been penalised, including being banned from supplying medical equipment in the US and Canada, over allegations of forced labour practices. – February 26, 2023.