THE United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has lifted a ban on Malaysian manufacturer Smart Glove after clearing the company of using forced labour.

The company had been issued with a withhold release order (WRO) in November 2021, prohibiting them from exporting their products to the US over concerns of forced labour. 

With the lifting of the WRO, Smart Glove and its group of companies can now resume exports to the US.

In a statement, the US agency said the glove maker has demonstrated it no longer uses forced labour. 

CBP also said Smart Glove had made efforts to remedy the use of forced labour in its production, which included repayment of recruitment fees, improving living conditions, and implementing new worker-centred policies and procedures. 

Following this, any of Smart Glove’s synthetic glove shipments received from yesterday onwards will no longer be detained at US ports of entry. 

“The Department of Homeland Security’s relentless enforcement efforts to prevent goods produced with forced labour from entering the US are changing companies’ behaviour, resulting in the elimination of forced labour from supply chains,” its secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said. 

“Today’s modification of the WRO against Smart Glove proves that our enforcement efforts are driving responsible corporate citizenship and significant changes in corporate behaviour, and we will recognise those changes when they are instituted.” – April 27, 2023.