US lifts import ban on Malaysian glove maker company after resolving labor abuse allegations 

YTY Industry Holdings Sdn Bhd, a manufacturer of rubber gloves in Malaysia, had a year-long import ban lifted today by the United States, which claimed the company had resolved allegations of labor violations.

In January 2022, the US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) prohibited YTY products due to reasonable evidence that the company used “forced labor” in its manufacturing operations, including abusive living and working conditions.

“CBP issued the ban based on evidence reasonably indicating the presence of several International Labour Organization forced labor indicators within YTY Group’s production and employee housing facilities, including abuse of vulnerability, intimidation and threats, debt bondage, retention of identity documents, abusive living and working conditions, deception, and excessive overtime,” the Customs agency said in a statement.

However, it announced today that YTY has taken various corrective actions to address the forced labor indicators, including reimbursing migrant workers for recruitment fees and commissioning an independent social audit. 

“Accordingly, CBP determined that YTY Group’s disposable gloves are no longer being produced using forced labor.”

The abuse of allegedly exploited foreign workers, who make up a sizable portion of Malaysia’s manufacturing workforce, has drawn increased attention to Malaysian businesses, including some of the largest palm oil and medical glove suppliers in the world.

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