U.S customs authorities have lifted a two-year import ban on palm oil products made by Malaysia’s Sime Darby Plantation after determining the goods were no longer produced with forced labour. After being blocked by the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) in December 2020, Sime Darby Plantation appointed an ethical trade consultancy to audit its facilities and set aside US$ 20 million to compensate some 15,000 current and 19,000 former migrant workers who paid recruitment fees to secure jobs at the firm. CBP Executive Assistant Commissioner AnnMarie Highsmith said that Sime Darby Plantation had taken action to correct 11 Internal Labour Organisation indicators of forced labour.

Source: Reuters