Table of Contents
Forced Labor or Trafficking in Persons cited by U.S. Government
Risk of Forced Labor or Trafficking in Persons cited by other source
Documented presence of migrant workers
Documented presence or significant likelihood of third-party labor recruiters
Child Labor cited by U.S. Government
Risk of Child Labor cited by other source
Documented presence of other vulnerable workers
Complex/opaque supply chains and/or lack of vertical integration
High degree of flexibility in procurement practices of downstream entities
Large numbers of dispersed, unorganized, or informal small producers or other worksites
Multiple points of aggregation, co-mingling, and/or transformation across supply chain
Scale or nature of risk varies significantly based on geographic area of production
Scale or nature of risk is strongly associated with certain types of suppliers/entities
Scale or nature of risk is present across multiple tiers or nodes of supply chain (including in associated downstream or upstream goods)
The rubber glove supply chain is long and complex.17 Bhutta, Mahmood F., et al. “Global value chains for medical gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic: Confronting forced labour through public procurement and crisis.” Global Networks, 2022. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/glob.12360. The chains can be fragmented with intermediary suppliers that can hold significant influence.18 Bhutta, Mahmood F., et al. “Global value chains for medical gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic: Confronting forced labour through public procurement and crisis.” Global Networks, 2022. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/glob.12360. The manufacturers in Malaysia supply to distributors that then supply rubber gloves globally.19 Bhutta, Mahmood F., et al. “Global value chains for medical gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic: Confronting forced labour through public procurement and crisis.” Global Networks, 2022. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/glob.12360.
While the rubber glove manufacturing process is largely automated, workers play critical roles in removing gloves from hand-shaped forms used in the production line and in quality checking and packing. Natural rubber gloves are made from natural rubber (latex) while synthetic rubber gloves are made from nitrile.20 “Rubber Gloves Manufacturing Process.” Vaisala. www.vaisala.com/en/chemical-industry-solutions/chemicals-allied-products/rubber-gloves-manufacturing-process#:~:text=Natural%20rubber%20gloves%20are%20manufactured,calcium%20nitrate%20or%20calcium%20carbonate.. Bhutta, Mahmood F., et al. “Global value chains for medical gloves during the COVID-19 pandemic: Confronting forced labour through public procurement and crisis.” Global Networks, 2022. onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1111/glob.12360.
Glove manufacturing (including quality assurance and packing)
Transportation
Wholesale and retail
Some rubber gloves utilize raw, natural rubber – an input associated with labor risks.
Rubber gloves are primarily used in the medical industry. They may also be utilized in the food and beverage industry, domestically in the home, and in industries where workers are exposed to chemicals (such as chemical manufacturing).