KUALA LUMPUR – Supermax Corporation Bhd’s representatives in the United States are currently in touch with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to obtain more clarity and information on the Withhold Release Order (WRO) issued, and the required measures to move forward.
The company said in a filing with Bursa Malaysia today that it had embarked on its undertaking to meet the International Labour Organisation (ILO) standards on migrant workers since 2019.
“The process has well started and Supermax is surprised that due consideration has not been given to the fact that corrective steps have begun, and improvements made to labour welfare. We will speed up the process to meet the ILO standards,” it said.
The rubber glove manufacturer had on October 11, commissioned an independent international consulting firm to conduct an audit into the status of migrant workers in the Supermax Group’s manufacturing facilities focusing on the 11 ILO indicators of forced labour.
The audit is now ongoing, it said.
Currently, about 20% of Supermax Group’s sales go to the US market.
The group will take steps to divert goods bound for the US to other markets where possible and has informed all its stakeholders that it is taking immediate and necessary steps to address the issue expeditiously.
To recap, on Wednesday, the US CBP issued a WRO against Supermax Corporation and its subsidiaries based on information that reasonably indicates their alleged use of forced labour in manufacturing operations.
The CBP identified 10 of the ILO’s indicators of forced labour during its investigation.
Following the investigation, disposable gloves produced by Supermax Corporation’s wholly owned subsidiaries, Maxter Glove Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, Maxwell Glove Manufacturing Bhd and Supermax Glove Manufacturing will be barred from entering all US ports effective today. – Bernama, October 21, 2021
