A large shipment of nitrile disposable gloves from Malaysia's Top Glove has been seized by U.S. customs authorities.
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection said Wednesday that it has confiscated a shipment of 3.97 million gloves worth an estimated $518,000.
The U.S. imposed a ban on Top Glove's products in late March over reports of it utilizing forced labor in its production process. The CBP published its findings stating it had evidence of multiple forced labor indicators. This included evidence of the company forcing workers into debt bondage and excessive overtimes.
The U.S. initially banned all products from two of Top Glove's subsidiaries in July. The country later extended the ban to all of Top Glove's products made in Malaysia. The CBP then issued a confiscation order for all disposable gloves coming into the U.S. from Malaysia.
Last month, Top Glove said its production has been affected by the U.S. ban. The company maintains that it had resolved all indicators of forced labor in its operations.
Top Glove said it had hired an ethical trade consultant to help it resolve its alleged issue. The company also submitted a report by independent consultant Impact Limited as proof that it has addressed all forced labor concerns.
Top Glove said all of the 11 indicators of forced labor as determined by the International Labor Organization have been resolved the resolution has been verified by multiple third-party consultants.
In its report, Impact Limited said it "no longer" found indicators of systemic forced labor within the company's operations and production process. Impact Limited said Top Glove had made significant progress in addressing concerns over forced labor practices such as inhumane worker living conditions and working environment.
In a stock exchange filing on Wednesday, Top Glove said it is working with U.S. authorities for the lifting of the ban.
"The U.S. CBP is currently reviewing our submission on the back of the company having remediated the 11 International Labour Organization's forced labour indicators," Top Glove said.
