MEF lauds efforts to work with US CBP

KUALA LUMPUR: The Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) has expressed support for the government’s initiatives to explore more business opportunities with the United States, including the move to work together with the US Department of Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in addressing forced labour issues.

“The initiative to set up a working committee with the US CBP to address the issues of forced labour will be able to resolve some of the outstanding withhold release orders (WROS) imposed on some of the Malaysian exporters to the United States,” MEF president Datuk Syed Hussain Syed Husman said in a statement.

Allegations of forced labour practices have resulted in the US border agency issuing WROS against several Malaysian companies that export their products to the United States, especially those in the rubber glove and palm oil industries.

“With the establishment of the working committee, it would be easier to deal with the outstanding issues with the United States and the various related agencies. The efforts by Human Resources Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan in conjunction with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob’s visit to the United States is indeed timely,” Syed Hussain said.

In a statement last Friday, Saravanan said the committee, which is scheduled to meet every three months, would focus on exchanging information, including formulating policies that could support the country’s initiatives towards combatting forced labour.

The US CBP is also expected to make a working visit to Malaysia at the end of this month and hold a workshop with the country’s industry players.