Early last year we wrote about the government’s determination to stamp out the use of modern slavery to produce goods that are imported into Australia. This week, the ABC has reported on accusations filed against Australian company Ansell, and major US corporation Kimberly-Clark, that they “knowingly profited” off exploitation when contracting a factory in Malaysia to make latex gloves.
The factory in question is owned by a Malaysian company, Brightway. Ansell acknowledges that it has used Brightway as a third-party supplier of their line of aquamarine single-use gloves, TouchNTuff. The allegations of forced labour at Brightway are so significant that its products have now been banned in the United States.
The story is about a young man from Bangladesh called Shuvo, who paid a high recruitment fee to get a job in Malaysia. Forced labour experts say high recruitment fees can indicate that somebody is entering into debt bondage, with people usually taking out loans that they then need to repay by working.
Once he arrived, Shuvo said he was told he was suited to the factory floor, when he’d hoped for a spot in an air-conditioned office. He found accommodation was cramped and the food terrible. His case file alleges there were guards, and his identity lifeline in a foreign country was taken. There were 11-hour days, or even longer if there were urgent shipments, with no breaks for meals or visits to the bathroom. The final straw for Shuvo was when he was beaten violently by his supervisor. All of this for disposable gloves that go for less than 50 cents each.
Importers should familiarise themselves with the signs that indicate their imports might possibly be the product of modern slavery. On the Parliament of Australia’s website there are definitions and assessment of the practice of forced labour.
The United Nations has eleven markers that helps it define whether individuals are being subjected to forced labour.
The indicators are:
• Abuse of vulnerability
• Deception
• Restriction of movement
• Isolation
• Physical and sexual violence
• Intimidation and threats
• Retention of identity documents
• Withholding of wages
• Debt bondage
• Abusive working and living conditions
• Excessive overtime
The term ‘modern slavery’ does not include practices like substandard working conditions or underpayment of workers, although these practices are also harmful and may be present in some situations of modern slavery.
As we said in our article in 2021, taking action to combat modern slavery makes good business sense. Companies that make such an effort in their operations and supply chains can protect against possible business harm and improve the integrity and quality of their supply chains. They can also increase profitability, investor confidence and access to financing opportunities.
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