Sponsored – Sri Trang
Would you want to know if the companies you’ve partnered with are responsible for human rights violations? The International Labour Organization is working to identify violations of human rights in the workplace throughout the world, especially in countries like Malaysia where foreign workers are recruited and exploited.
Billy Harris, CEO of Sri Trang USA, recently spoke to Repertoire about how the International Labour Organization is addressing the ongoing human rights issues workers are facing all over the world. In the last few years, six glove manufacturers have been issued withhold release orders by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Harris uses his insights to discuss what this means for the industry and the workers, and how we can move forward.
What is a withhold release order?
A withhold release order (WRO) is used to put a hold on products or services coming out of factories where U.S. Customs and Border Protection believes the worker’s rights are being exploited. Harris explained, “Today, there have been six glove companies subject to Withhold Release Orders. All of them since September 2019. Only two of those companies have worked through the process to have the WRO lifted. Right now, there are four WROs still in place, and we believe there’s a chance that there will be others to be issued in the coming weeks and months.”
The International Labour Organization (ILO) represents labor forces across the world, working to identify labor violations and worker exploita- tion. The ILO has 11 indicators of Forced Labor: deception, restriction of movement, isolation, physical and sexual violence, intimidation and threats, retention of identity documents, with holding of wages, debt bondage, abusive work and living conditions, abuse of vulnerability, and excessive overtime.
Once the WRO is issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the company must go through an appeals process to get a release. If the WRO is moved to findings, it means the CBP has substantial evidence to sup- port its assertion that forced labor is being used and uphold the WRO.
How should distributors respond?
From an ethical standpoint, Harris argues that it should be easy to not offer any brands with WROs. While distancing your organization from those brands may cause a disruption in supply, it could save the integrity of your business in the eyes of your customers.
Harris says, “One of the large distribution companies made a very bold statement and with one of the companies that they were doing business with that was subject to a WRO. The day after, they returned 100% of their inventory to the company and said, ‘We’re not going to do business with you until you have all of these things corrected.’”
Making decisions like this won’t be easy, but conducting business with moral integrity can require difficult decisions. The ILO will continue to investigate potential human rights violations, and more WROs will be issued in the coming months and years. What will you do if one of the organizations you partner with is in violation of international labor laws?
To hear the full episode, visit repertoiremag.com/resources/podcasts.