Canada scraps contract with Malaysian glove maker over labour allegations

Canada has ended its sourcing contract with Malaysian glove maker Supermax Corporation after allegations of forced labour, according to the country's public services and procurement department on Tuesday. Malaysian factories making products from medical gloves to palm oil have come under scrutiny over allegations that foreign workers are a significant part of the manufacturing workforce.

Canada had stopped imports of Supermax gloves in November, but it said it would decide its next steps after receiving an audit of the firm's labour practices.

The government of Canada has decided to terminate two existing contracts for the supply of nitrile gloves by mutual consent, based on the seriousness of the allegations and anticipated timelines for the final audit results, according to an emailed statement on Tuesday by Supermax Healthcare Canada.

Supermax did not respond to a request for comment.