PCIAW® Trusted Member Ansell, a world leader in personal protective equipment, continues to play a leading role in ensuring the protection of workers vulnerable to forced labour in supply chains through the Responsible Glove Alliance (RGA).
The newly-formed Responsible Glove Alliance announced its launch, with Ansell one of seven founding members. The RGA will initially focus its efforts on the Malaysian rubber glove manufacturing industry. Malaysia is the world’s largest producer of this product and the industry relies heavily on migrant labour.
Aligning with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights
The RGA will work to identify, remediate and prevent the conditions giving rise to forced labour through recruitment transformation, collective influence, and the application of due diligence with advanced standards, tools and programs through the application of international standards and due diligence approaches aligned with the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP). Working in a pre-competitive, collaborative environment allows for the consistent application of these standards in a more expedient and effective manner.
“We recognise that many labour rights challenges, particularly those facing the medical products and medical use glove industry, cannot be solved by any one company working alone,” said Neil Salmon, Managing Director and CEO at Ansell. “Therefore, Ansell is pleased to be a founding member of this new organisation that will bring an aligned cross-industry focus to this pressing issue. We are confident that the shared ambitions and collective approach of the RGA and its members will bring significant improvement to conditions for workers in the glove industry supply chain.”
Supported by the Responsible Business Alliance
RGA member companies at launch include Ansell Limited; Cardinal Health; Hartalega Holdings Berhad; Henry Schein, Inc; Kimberly-Clark Corporation; Kossan Rubber Industries Berhad; and Medline Industries, LP.
As Secretariat, the Responsible Business Alliance (RBA) will support the RGA with strategic oversight and direction, as well as operational and administrative capabilities. ELEVATE will act as a key service provider during the initial phases of the program.
“What began as individual company efforts on responsible business conduct in Malaysia has evolved into a coalition of like-minded member companies dedicated to advancing corporate responsibility in their supply chains,” said Rob Lederer, CEO of the Responsible Business Alliance. “We look forward to working with RGA member companies, providing RBA tools and resources that will enable them to have a meaningful, positive impact on workers in their industry.”
