U.S. Customs and Border Protection has lifted import restrictions on disposable synthetic gloves produced by YTY Industry Holdings Sdn Bhd and its subsidiaries in Malaysia. This is the second time CBP has terminated forced labor-related import restrictions in the last week.
In January 2022 CBP issued a withhold release order against imports of these gloves based on evidence reasonably indicating the presence of several International Labor 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.
Since that time, CBP states, YTY Group has taken numerous actions to address these problems. Its remediation efforts have included drafting and implementing a corrective action plan to address indicators of forced labor, reimbursing recruitment fees paid by its migrant workers, commissioning an independent social compliance audit, and submitting comprehensive documentation that sufficiently demonstrates the company’s sustained commitment to remediate conditions of forced labor in its production and housing facilities.
As a result, CBP has determined that YTY Group’s disposable gloves are no longer being produced using forced labor and that such goods received on or after Feb. 8 will no longer be detained at U.S. ports of entry.
Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg has a robust program to assist companies on forced labor issues, including modifying or revoking WROs or findings. ST&R also maintains a frequently updated web page offering a broad range of information on forced labor-related efforts in the U.S. and around the world. For more information, please contact ST&R at supplychainvisibility@strtrade.com.
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