Malaysia's Smart Glove hit with U.S. import ban over labor issues

Action follows similar orders against Top Glove and Supermax

Workers collect rubber gloves at a Top Glove factory outside Kuala Lumpur. Multiple glove makers in Malaysia have been punished by the U.S. over labor issues. © Reuters

TAKASHI NAKANO, Nikkei staff writer

November 6, 2021 01:26 JST

SINGAPORE -- American customs authorities have blocked imports of disposable gloves made by Malaysia's Smart Glove in their latest action against the Southeast Asian nation's glove business over alleged worker abuses.

Customs and Border Protection found seven of the International Labor Organization's indicators of forced labor in its investigation of Smart Glove, the agency announced. CBP said it ordered its officers "at all U.S. ports of entry" to detain the gloves, starting Thursday local time.