Malaysian glove makers commit to ‘zero forced labour’ 

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – The Malaysian Rubber Glove Manufacturers Association (MARGMA) has joined a project to improve manufacturing practices and third-party auditing, initiated by the British high commissioner to Malaysia, Charles Hay.

The project, titled “enhancement of manufacturing and oil-palm third party audits compliance and due diligence with certification” is funded by the foreign, commonwealth and development office in the UK and runs from 30 Aug to January 2022, said MARGMA in a 9 Nov statement.

The initiative will provide training to local industries and third-party auditors to understand the dynamics of trafficking in person and labour compliances related to International Labour Organisation (ILO).

“The rubber glove industry is dedicated to raise the bars of meeting social compliance and support the project objectives,” said president Dr Supramaniam Shanmugam.

The Malaysian rubber glove industry, which exports to over 190 countries globally, currently undergoes about four levels of audits.

These include internal audits, customer-driven audits, independent third-party audits and government audits by the ministry of human resources. 

The initiative, MARGMA said, will help create “a common yardstick and understanding” on social compliances, amongst ILO, employees, employers, Malaysian government and source countries.”
 
“We at MARGMA are committed to be the role model for sensitising employers and the industry as a whole is already dedicated to ESG best practices,” concluded Supramaniam.  

Other supporters of the initiative include council for anti-trafficking in persons and anti-smuggling of migrants, Malaysian Palm Oil Certification Council, the ministry of plantation industries and commodities and the ministry of human resources Malaysia.