EU MPs calls for PPE supply chain audit to address alleged malpractices

CORONAVIRUS | Amid the rising demand for personal protective equipment from Malaysia, the world's largest exporter of latex gloves, several members of the European Parliament have called on the European Union (EU) to address alleged malpractices in the supply chain.

European Parliament vice-president Heidi Hautala in a joint open letter to EU high representative Josep Borrell and EU trade commissioner Phil Hogan said actions should be taken to address the situation, particularly in the current Covid-19 crisis.

"This could be done by strengthening supply chain checks and to support manufacturers to ensure they adhere to Covid-19 health and safety norms, to protect workers on the factory floor and in their accommodations.

"For this purpose, the EU should undertake inspections and audits in factories that the EU is purchasing Covid-19 items from," said Hautala and six other EU MPs.

Last October, then Human Resource Minister M Kulasegaran announced that rubber glove makers will be assisted to carry out a comprehensive social compliance audit in line with international standards coming into force next year.

This follows a US ban on import of disposable rubber gloves from WRP Asia Pacific Sdn Bhd for suspected use of forced labour - a restriction which has been lifted in March - to meet PPE demands.

The EU representatives further called upon its delegation in Malaysia to strengthen engagement with Malaysian authorities on responsible business conduct and support them to implement the UN guiding principles on business and human rights.

This includes developing a national action plan and relevant due diligence guidelines, they added.

The statement also noted initial engagements from its delegation here with the International Trade and Industry Minister (Miti) in a letter dated March 25 - during the early stages of the movement control order - urging the Malaysian government to ramp up the supply of medical gloves using measures such as 24/7 production.

"We are fully aware that Covid-19 pandemic is a severe public health emergency and a major economic shock that affects all of us, and a need for coordinated action to ensure the availability of personal protective equipment.

"We cannot, however, turn a blind eye to the working conditions of the workers who produce this equipment," it said.

Among others, EU MPs repeated concerns of poor protection for workers, something which was left unaddressed by the letter from EU Ambassador Maria Castille Fernandez to Miti.

"Illegal recruitment fees, long hours, low pay, passport confiscation and squalid, overcrowded accommodation are commonplace.

"Such conditions leave workers, who are often foreign workers from countries such as Bangladesh, Myanmar and Nepal, vulnerable to forced labour and debt bondage, which are modern forms of slavery.

"Furthermore, reports from glove factories suggest that employers have failed to provide adequate health protection to their workers," they said.

Working and living conditions of migrant workers in factories and other sectors recently came under scrutiny after a Covid-19 outbreak was detected at several construction sites. - Mkini