Ansell sharpens focus on labour rights after Malaysian supplier probe

Melbourne, Australia – Ansell Ltd is strengthening labour rights monitoring across its global supply chain following a review of Malaysian ceramic former producers.

As part of the process, the Australian gloves and protection gear manufacturer is expanding its ‘supplier management framework’ to include smaller and indirect suppliers, said a recent company statement.

The move comes after labour rights allegations were raised earlier this year against a small Malaysian supplier of ceramic formers used in Ansell’s single-use glove production.

Alleged issues included “debt bondage through the payment of recruitment fees, underpayment of wages, retention of identity documents, health and safety issues, and unsatisfactory living conditions.”

Ansell said the supplier represented less than 0.1% of its total global supplier spend and was an “indirect supplier”, meaning it provided equipment used in production but not materials incorporated into finished goods.

While the supplier had signed Ansell’s ‘supplier code of conduct’, it had fallen outside the scope of the company’s SMF, which Ansell said currently covers over 85% of finished goods and raw material supplier spend.

In response, Ansell said it “acted immediately” to investigate the matter and the supplier agreed to repay affected workers – with three repayments made so far and completion expected by January 2026.

Following these findings, Ansell said it launched a broader review of its ceramic former suppliers, where it identified “similar compliance issues across multiple suppliers.”

The company said it carried out on-site inspections and worker accommodation visits, developed corrective action plans, and agreed repayment timelines with the suppliers concerned.

Ansell is reviewing the criteria of its supplier management framework and will expand it to include all ceramic former suppliers.

The group is also assessing its wider network of more than 1,600 small indirect suppliers to determine which should be added to the due diligence process.