RM10.33m in Malaysian palm oil seized by US customs over forced labour claims

 

The US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has seized four shipments of palm oil from Malaysia, which it said was likely to have been manufactured by forced labour.

According to the CBP, the shipments weighing in at 246 tonnes were worth about US$2.47 million (RM10.33 million).

Three of the shipments were seized earlier on Feb 11, while the latest shipment seized was on March 1. All seizures were made in Baltimore.

"CBP will continue to ensure that goods made with forced labour do not enter our nation’s commerce and we will help to root out this inhumane practice from the US supply chain," said CBP’s acting area port director in Baltimore, Marc Calixte.

The CBP did not say who the shipments belonged to.

However, in its statement, it mentioned that effective Dec 30, 2020, there was an order to detain palm oil products produced by Sime Darby Plantation Berhad.

Malaysiakini is attempting to get comments from Sime Darby Plantation.

In January this year, the CBP said it had found sufficient evidence of forced labour in Sime Darby Plantation, and that the company's goods are subject to seizure.

Sime Darby Plantation in response said it would cooperate with the CBP to address concerns.

Later in February, the company set aside RM82.02 million for compensation to current and former migrant workers who paid recruitment fees to secure jobs. - Mkini