KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 6): Malaysia-based Smart Glove Corp Sdn Bhd claimed that the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) "did not provide the basis" for issuing a detention order in the form of a withhold release order (WRO) against disposable rubber gloves produced by the group on forced labour allegations and that Smart Glove has contacted the CBP to obtain further information on the matter.
Smart Glove group CEO Johnson Chang said in an emailed reply to theedgemarkets.com’s queries that Smart Glove had only known about the WRO on Thursday (Nov 4) through the CBP’s press release.
"On Nov 4, 2021, Smart Glove learned through a press release that [the] US CBP had issued a WRO on gloves manufactured by our companies for import into the US.
"CBP’s press release did not provide the basis upon which it issued the WRO. We have contacted CBP to obtain further information.
"Smart Glove stands against forced labour and is committed to all of our workers’ health, safety and well-being and we remain dedicated to their welfare. We look forward to resolving this action [by the CBP],” Chang claimed.
The CBP said in the Thursday statement that the WRO issued against the Smart Glove group of companies was effective on Nov 4.
According to the CBP, it had issued the WRO based on information that reasonably indicates and claims that the Smart Glove group of companies' production facilities utilised forced labour.
"Effective Nov 4, CBP officers at all US ports of entry will detain disposable gloves produced in Malaysia by a group of companies collectively known as Smart Glove. This group of companies includes Smart Glove Corp, GX Corp Sdn Bhd, GX3 Specialty Plant, Sigma Glove Industries [Sdn Bhd] and Platinum Glove Industries Sdn Bhd.
“[The] CBP identified seven of the International Labour Organization’s indicators of forced labour during its investigation,” the CBP claimed.