UNISON supports legal challenge over UK ’ s use of PPE suppliers

UNISON is backing the call for a judicial review into the UK government’s decision to continue using a Malaysian company accused of human rights abuses as a supplier of personal protective equipment (PPE) to the NHS. The union is also supporting a crowdfunding scheme to finance the legal effort. As reported in the Guardian, the London-based law firm Wilson Solicitors has filed for the judicial review at the High Court, following the selection of the UK subsidiary of Malaysian company Supermax as one of the approved suppliers in a new £6 billion contract for disposable gloves for NHS workers. Supermax has faced persistent accusations of using forced labour in relation to migrant workers in its Malaysian factories, which it has denied. In October 2021, the US imposed an import ban on the company, after an investigation found ‘ample evidence’ of forced labour. Canada stopped imports in November, over the same concerns. The UK government launched its own investigation into the company in November. Despite that ongoing investigation, NHS Supply Chain has assigned a framework agreement to the Supermax subsidiary – making a mockery of Whitehall’s claims of due diligence in its procurement. UNISON has long campaigned against human rights abuses across the whole rubber glove industry, with forced labour a serious concern, as well as the absence of proper safety procedures as factories have gone into overdrive to meet the global demand for PPE. The union has thousands of mem...
Source: UNISON Health care news - Category: UK Health Authors: Tags: Article News Covid-19 human rights international procurement Source Type: news