(Ottawa) Supermax Healthcare Canada Group, a division of a Malaysian company suspected of using forced labor to manufacture personal protective equipment, wants all the light to be shed as quickly as possible on these allegations which have led the Canadian government to suspend delivery of disposable gloves provided for under contracts awarded to it.
In a declaration sent to Press, Supermax Healthcare Canada Group says it has offered its full cooperation to Canadian authorities, who made the decision after the United States last month issued a warrant for the seizure of products manufactured by Supermax Corp. and its subsidiaries.
The United States and Great Britain suspect Supermax Corp. to use forced labor in the manufacture of disposable gloves at its facilities in Malaysia.
US Customs and Border Protection issued a warrant for the seizure of products manufactured by Supermax Corp. last month. and its subsidiaries at all points of entry into the United States. In Britain, a parliamentary committee recently launched an investigation, instigated by Labor MPs, following the announcement of the US authorities’ decision.
Since the US Customs and Border Protection ruling, Supermax Corp. asked Malaysia HR Forum to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the allegations. A report is expected by mid-November.
The company also announced that it intends to retain the services of a second independent firm to verify the findings of Malaysia HR Forum and to conduct audits on working conditions.
Finally, a third firm will be hired in February 2022 to assess the impact of the measures implemented, if they prove necessary, following the first two verifications.
Regular audits, assures the company
Supermax Healthcare Canada Group, which is based in Longueuil and was founded in 2004, says it was made aware of the forced labor allegations made by US Customs and Border Protection only last month. She maintains that she immediately requested explanations from Supermax Corp.
“Audits are regularly carried out by independent firms at Supermax Corp. facilities. in Malaysia to verify that working conditions meet International Labor Organization standards, and no related report has shown otherwise. The last audit was carried out in December 2019 ”, underlines Supermax Healthcare Canada Group in its statement.
“Relying on these audit reports conducted by independent firms, Supermax Healthcare Canada Group was therefore surprised by the recent allegations against its supplier Supermax Corp. in Malaysia, ”adds the company.
It should be remembered that Canada has adopted a policy prohibiting the importation of goods whose production results from forced labor. Press Supermax Healthcare Canada Group reported Wednesday that Supermax Healthcare Canada Group had landed more than half a billion dollars in federal and provincial government contracts since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic for personal protective equipment.
In Ottawa, opposition parties are calling for a parliamentary inquiry to shed light on the Trudeau government’s decision to award contracts to Supermax Healthcare Canada Group, while allegations of a form of slavery modern are targeting its supplier in Malaysia.
In his statement to Press, Supermax Healthcare Canada Group maintains that “the allegations made against Supermax Corp. in Malaysia are only targeting the US market ”.