“Forced labour: The US’ ban on M’sia goods is more than what it seems to be”
By Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy
FORCED labour might not be only reason behind the US ban on Malaysian products. Perhaps, there is something else behind the ban.
A number of establishments or companies have been identified by the US Custom Border Protection (US CBP) as using forced labour in Malaysia but I think two companies have been removed from the list after a meeting with the US authority.
Anyhow, the US ban on products by companies using forced labour is serious case. It will have negative effect on the viability of the companies and affect our country’s revenue stream.
However, forced labour is something widespread, not just affecting Malaysia. It is pervasive in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
It is a consequence of using primitive methods in production that invariably depends on cheap and malleable labour. In others, forced labour is closely tied to underdevelopment.
Whatever the case may be, forced labour is an affront to human rights and human dignity. It is scourge that must be eliminated by recognising the value of labour.
The US is so concerned about forced labour issues to the extent that it bans products made using forced labour but the irony is, even the US is not really free from forced labour allegations.
Thousands of Latin American workers are employed in the US under unfavourable labour and living conditions.
And that is why I suspect there is more to it when the US bans Malaysian products allegedly produced using forced labour. The fact that some companies have had their bans lifted just solidifies my suspicions.
In fact, if the US is really going after forced labour practises, I guess virtually almost all the products from Malaysia will have to be banned.
What is happening, in my view, is selective ban. It is my contention that the US ban on products could be related to two other matters.
One is related to the need to protect the US’ domestic industries from unhealthy competition and the other; global geopolitics.
On the first argument, the US goes after Malaysian products that compete with similar products manufactured in there. If there is a perceived unfair competition primarily in the use of cheap labour to the US products, then the necessity to protect domestic industries kicks in.
Geopolitics
For instance, unfair competition from palm oil to soybean and others could be the reason why the US is giving the excuse of forced labour practises in banning palm oil products from Malaysia.
In my opinion, the US is indirectly trying to protect its domestic industries from unfair competition.
When it comes to geopolitical consideration, it need not be elaborated that the US is prone to use trade as a weapon.
The on-going attempts to sideline China in the Asia-Pacific region could also be the reason why the US is banning products from some countries, including Malaysia.
It is a nefarious attempt to keep Malaysia and other nations on the US side. Hence, Malaysia is forced to contend with the issue of forced labour because of its over dependence on the US market.
In other words, Malaysia might complain of unfairness but it has to reckon with the US trade imposition. The efforts of the Malaysian Government to deny the absence of forced labour might be useful for local consumption but has no impact on the US.
And I do not think that the US depends on information from the Malaysian Government on instances of forced labour. The US relies on information gathered by independent agencies about the nature of labour conditions in a country.
Hence, that is why I believe all the big talk by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin in trying to convince the US authorities about the absence of forced labour is nothing but political propaganda.
The US officials are no fools to completely believe or trust our Government ministers. They have other more credible sources of information.
Nevertheless, whatever the reason or reasons for the US ban, if allegations of forced labour can bring about positive changes to the working and living conditions of our workforce, they must be welcomed. – June 5, 2022
FORCED labour might not be only reason behind the US ban on Malaysian products. Perhaps, there is something else behind the ban.
A number of establishments or companies have been identified by the US Custom Border Protection (US CBP) as using forced labour in Malaysia but I think two companies have been removed from the list after a meeting with the US authority.
Anyhow, the US ban on products by companies using forced labour is serious case. It will have negative effect on the viability of the companies and affect our country’s revenue stream.
However, forced labour is something widespread, not just affecting Malaysia. It is pervasive in Asia, Africa and Latin America.
It is a consequence of using primitive methods in production that invariably depends on cheap and malleable labour. In others, forced labour is closely tied to underdevelopment.
Whatever the case may be, forced labour is an affront to human rights and human dignity. It is scourge that must be eliminated by recognising the value of labour.
The US is so concerned about forced labour issues to the extent that it bans products made using forced labour but the irony is, even the US is not really free from forced labour allegations.
Thousands of Latin American workers are employed in the US under unfavourable labour and living conditions.
And that is why I suspect there is more to it when the US bans Malaysian products allegedly produced using forced labour. The fact that some companies have had their bans lifted just solidifies my suspicions.
In fact, if the US is really going after forced labour practises, I guess virtually almost all the products from Malaysia will have to be banned.
What is happening, in my view, is selective ban. It is my contention that the US ban on products could be related to two other matters.
One is related to the need to protect the US’ domestic industries from unhealthy competition and the other; global geopolitics.
On the first argument, the US goes after Malaysian products that compete with similar products manufactured in there. If there is a perceived unfair competition primarily in the use of cheap labour to the US products, then the necessity to protect domestic industries kicks in.
Geopolitics
For instance, unfair competition from palm oil to soybean and others could be the reason why the US is giving the excuse of forced labour practises in banning palm oil products from Malaysia.
In my opinion, the US is indirectly trying to protect its domestic industries from unfair competition.
When it comes to geopolitical consideration, it need not be elaborated that the US is prone to use trade as a weapon.
The on-going attempts to sideline China in the Asia-Pacific region could also be the reason why the US is banning products from some countries, including Malaysia.
It is a nefarious attempt to keep Malaysia and other nations on the US side. Hence, Malaysia is forced to contend with the issue of forced labour because of its over dependence on the US market.
In other words, Malaysia might complain of unfairness but it has to reckon with the US trade imposition. The efforts of the Malaysian Government to deny the absence of forced labour might be useful for local consumption but has no impact on the US.
And I do not think that the US depends on information from the Malaysian Government on instances of forced labour. The US relies on information gathered by independent agencies about the nature of labour conditions in a country.
Hence, that is why I believe all the big talk by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M Saravanan and Plantation Industries and Commodities Minister Datuk Zuraida Kamaruddin in trying to convince the US authorities about the absence of forced labour is nothing but political propaganda.
The US officials are no fools to completely believe or trust our Government ministers. They have other more credible sources of information.
Nevertheless, whatever the reason or reasons for the US ban, if allegations of forced labour can bring about positive changes to the working and living conditions of our workforce, they must be welcomed. – June 5, 2022
Ramasamy, notorious Leftie , is either ignorant or being deliberately ignorant , projecting his anti-US biases instead of studying the facts.
ReplyDeleteWhether the US has its own internal labour issues is irrelevant to the legal issues. Malaysian companies are trying to export products to the
USA, and if they are alleged to be in breach of US laws, they hato address it, no use complaining.
US CBP is an enforcement agency , not an investigation agency. They acted based upon 3rd party complaints, not from anyone in the US Government.
You want to get the import block lifted, you get independent 3rd party audits to confirm you have addressed the issues. Top Glove followed the correct process.
There is no point complaining about political nefarious agendas. There is objective data that the Malaysia companies were guilty per the complaints. A criminal charged in court cannot use as his defence that other people also committed crimes.