ONE OF THE country’s largest glovemakers, Supermax Corp Berhad is the latest Malaysian company whose products have been barred from entering the United States due to forced labour claims.
Supermax and its subsidiaries; Maxter Glove Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, Maxwell Glove Manufacturing Bhd and Supermax Glove Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, have been placed under a withhold release order (WRO) by US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
The order is based on “information that reasonably indicates their use of forced labour and manufacturing operations”, CBP said in a recent statement.
During its investigation, CBP also discovered 10 of the International Labour Organisation’s indicators of forced labour. The importation of merchandise produced, wholly or in part, by convict labour, forced labour, and indentured labour, including forced or indentured child labour is prohibited by Federal Statute 19 U.S.C. 1307.
“With 10 of the 11 forced labour indicators identified during our investigation, CBP has sufficient evidence to conclude that Supermax Corp and its subsidiaries produce gloves in violation of US trade law,” said CBP office of trade executive assistant commissioner AnnMarie R. Highsmith.
“Until the manufacturers can prove their manufacturing processes are free of forced labour, their goods are not welcome here.”
However, in May, Supermax Corp had said it adhered to labour laws on the treatment of migrant workers and was committed to combating forced labour, following a media report that the CBP had opened investigations into the company.
Apart from Supermax, FGV Holdings Berhad and Sime Darby Plantation Berhad are two additional large cap listed firms with a WRO against their products due to forced labour claims.
Top Glove Corp Bhd, another glovemaker, obtained a WRO in July of last year, and the year-long ban was lifted on Sept 10. — The Health
