Minister dismisses forced labour claims against Top Glove as 'baseless'
Human Resource Minister M Saravanan has dismissed as "baseless" allegations of forced labour made against rubber glove manufacturer Top Glove, leading to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) imposing an import sanction against two of its subsidiaries.
Speaking to reporters at the ministry in Putrajaya after meeting with rubber glove industry players, Saravanan (above) said this was based on the outcome of a Labour Department's investigation into the claims....
Human Resource Minister M Saravanan has dismissed as "baseless" allegations of forced labour made against rubber glove manufacturer Top Glove, leading to the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) imposing an import sanction against two of its subsidiaries.
Speaking to reporters at the ministry in Putrajaya after meeting with rubber glove industry players, Saravanan (above) said this was based on the outcome of a Labour Department's investigation into the claims.
"I have instructed the Labour Department to investigate and it was found that most of the allegations were baseless.
"There were shortcomings that could be addressed, in terms of housing and other things. But it was not as alleged by the foreign agency," he said.
In a separate statement, the Human Resource Ministry said Top Glove's headquarters in Meru, Klang, had been raided by enforcers on July 13 but the world's largest glove manufacturer was cleared of forced labour.
The ministry said Top Glove was found to have breached the movement control order rules as well as provided cramped quarters for foreign staff.
"This led to Top Glove being fined by the Health Ministry, and issued a notice of compliance by the Housing and Local Government Ministry.
"However, nothing was found to indicate there were elements of forced labour,” it said.
Saravanan further said he would also be personally visiting Top Glove's factory, along with ministry officials, and an invitation will be extended to officials from the US Embassy here.
"This is so all of us can see and prove that these allegations are baseless.
"If there are any shortcomings in our industry, I hope that foreign agencies will not directly intervene.
"By right they should have contacted the relevant ministries and seek clarifications before taking any action," he added.
The US CBP had last week enforced a detention order on subsidiaries of Top Glove, and Australia's ABC News yesterday quoted a CBP spokesperson as saying that the decision was "based on reasonable evidence of forced labour in the manufacturing process".
"The evidence reveals multiple International Labour Organisation (ILO) indicators of forced labour, including debt bondage, excessive overtime, retention of identification documents, and abusive working and living conditions," the spokesperson reportedly said.
The Human Resource Ministry under the previous Pakatan Harapan government had urged glove makers to carry out internal audits of its supply chain and Saravanan today said a new committee headed by its secretary-general, together with the Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association, has been formed to oversee the process.
The stakeholders meeting today was held in light of US CBP's latest sanction against a Malaysian glove maker, the first being in October last year on imports from WRP Asia Sdn Bhd.
Responding to the action against Top Glove, the Australian High Commission in Kuala Lumpur had said it is in contact with Malaysian authorities and stakeholders from the local rubber glove industry on matters relating to modern slavery, human trafficking, and forced labour.
This follows news report of the allegations against Top Glove, as well as pressure from activists for other governments to follow the US' lead in eradicating elements of forced labour from its supply chain.
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