Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Zuraida Kamaruddin has welcomed the decision by the US Customs and Borders Protection (CBP) to set up a working committee with the Malaysian government to address the issue of forced labour allegations.
However, it should be noted that in doing so, the minister went on the defensive, saying that Malaysian industries had not been treated fairly.
"This is a move in the right direction to resolve this long outstanding issue that has unfairly plagued local industries, in particular palm oil and rubber.
"As I have mentioned before, most of the claims of forced labour made by NGOs and other interest groups were not verified by the US authorities, which then resulted in Malaysian palm oil and palm oil products being banned.
"This is grossly unfair to our local industry," she claimed.
The US CBP has indeed reacted in the past to forced labour allegations against companies such as Top Glove by issuing a “Withhold Release Order” (WRO).
The International Trade and Industry Ministry (Miti) revealed in March this year that the estimated loss incurred by Top Glove Corporation Bhd during the period of the WRO imposed by the US CBP was RM3.6 billion.
On July 15, 2020, the US CBP issued a WRO on Top Glove on allegations of forced labour practices in the production process, including employee debt bondage, excessive overtime, violation of environmental conditions, workplace and accommodation facilities and detention of identification documents.
“However, the WRO restriction was lifted on Sept 10 last year after the CBP was satisfied with the evidence and actions taken by Top Glove, including the payment of compensation to employees and improving workplace facilities and accommodation for employees,” Miti said.
In 2020, the CBP had also barred Malaysian products of Sime Darby Plantation, the world's biggest palm oil planter by land size, citing reasonable suspicion of the use of forced labour. That allowed the authorities to detain goods at ports.
Combating forced labour
Zuraida thanked Human Resources Minister M Saravanan for securing the commitment from the CBP to set up this working committee during his current trip to the US.
"The Plantation Industries and Commodities Ministry will be following this up closely with the relevant US authorities to urgently resolve it.
"I have several key meetings lined up and I am confident an amicable resolution is within reach in the near term," said Zuraida, who is also on a working visit to the US until tomorrow.
She said the Malaysian government has taken various initiatives to monitor and prevent forced labour.
"Malaysia has pledged to eradicate forced labour and child labour through ratification of ILO Fundamental Convention no. 29 (Forced Labour) and Convention no.182 (Worst Forms of Child Labour) respectively.
"In addition, Malaysia has ratified Convention no.98 (Collective Bargaining), Convention no.100 (Equal Remuneration) and Convention no.138 (Minimum Age) and Convention no.131 (Minimum Wage).
"These conventions provide useful guidance in determining Malaysia's obligations with respect to the protection of the rights of foreign workers," she said.
She added that Malaysia is also embarking on the Bridge Project with ILO, aimed at supporting government efforts at combating forced labour under Protocol 29 (Supplementary Protocol to Convention 29) as guidance on measures to eliminate all areas of forced labour (prevention, protection of victims and access to justice).
The Ampang MP also highlighted that on Nov 19 last year, the government had agreed to ratify the ILO Protocol 29 which is the Protocol of 2014 to the Forced Labour Convention, 1930.
"The ministry will continue to ensure that the country's commodity industry, which is one of the main contributors to the country's economic recovery after Covid-19, will continue to be protected from misleading propaganda from various quarters.
"I would also like to call on all Malaysians to join my ministry in our efforts to oppose the anti-palm oil campaign and continue to promote the benefits of Malaysian palm oil," added Zuraida. - Mkini
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