October 21, 2021 – The U.S. says it has banned imports from Malaysian glove maker Supermax Corp and its units over alleged forced labor practices at the company. The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a “Withhold Release Order” that prohibits imports based on reasonable information that indicates the use of forced labor in Supermax’s manufacturing operations, reports Reuters.
“With 10 of the 11 forced labor indicators identified during the course of our investigation, CBP has ample evidence to conclude that Supermax and its subsidiaries produce gloves in violation of U.S. trade law,” said AnnMarie R. Highsmith, Executive Assistant Commissioner at the CBP Office of Trade.
Earlier this year, Supermax came under fire following a media report that CBP had opened investigations into the company. Supermax said it adhered to labor laws on treatment of migrant workers and was committed to combating forced labor.
Malaysian firms have increasingly come under scrutiny over allegations of abuse of foreign workers, who form a significant part of the country’s manufacturing workforce.
Supermax’s bigger Malaysian rival Top Glove – the world’s largest latex glove maker – was barred by the CBP over similar allegations last July, but the ban was lifted last month after the company resolved the labor issues.