THREE rubber gloves makers, an electronics manufacturing company and an event management company – all based in Malaysia – have become the latest subjects of recent petitions to the US Customs and Border Protection Department (CBP) for alleged use of forced labour.
The three glove companies named in the most recent filings are Hartalega Holdings Bhd, Smart Glove Corp Sdn Bhd and Maxter/Supermax Corp Bhd. Electronics manufacturer ATA Industrial (M) Sdn Bhd was also named in a petition as was event management company Qube Integrated Malaysia Sdn Bhd.
Migrant worker rights specialist Andy Hall who was instrumental in filing the allegations has confirmed to the International Trade Today publication that these five firms are being investigated by the agency.
Hall had previously filed an allegation against Top Glove Corp Bhd – the world’s largest glove maker – which is now subject to a CBP finding that forced labour is in its supply chain and has had at least two big shipments seized as a result.
“None of the companies responded to requests for comment,” the International Trade Today pointed out.
“All (the CBP responses) were dated between February and May and say ‘CBP reviewed the petition and determined the information is sufficient to investigate the merits of this allegation’.”
Additionally, CBP also said “the length of time needed to review an allegation depends on a variety of factors, some of which are beyond CBP’s control,” and that “if CBP finds the information meets the threshold, CBP will issue a Withhold Release Order (WRP).”
Aside from Top Glove, Hall had also previously filed petitions against palm oil conglomerate FGV Holdings Bhd which is now subject to a WRO and glove maker WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd which was subject to a 2019 WRO prior to the sanction being lifted.
Another Malaysian glove company, Brightway Holdings Sdn Bhd, is also facing a CBP investigation based on a petition from Hall, Reuters recently reported.
When asked about a report in The Edge Markets which highlighted the allegations against ATA Industrial, a CBP spokesperson told the International Trade Today that “as a matter of policy, CBP does not comment on whether it is investigating specific entities.”
“The agency also didn’t respond to a later request for comment about the other companies mentioned by Hall,” the publication added. – May 26, 2021
