In November 2025, it was reported that 180 Bangladeshi workers in Malaysia were allegedly dismissed by the Malaysian glove manufacturer Mediceram at the end of October after they protested the non-renewal of many of their visas. Mediceram – a glove manufacturer – allegedly supplies to major multinationals including Ansell, YTY and Top Glove.

Ten of the Bangladeshi workers allegedly were then deported after being “forcibly” taken to the airport by Mediceram executives, and an additional six were deported later in November, according to The Daily Star. Later in November, around 150 of the workers wrote an ‘open letter’ protesting the forced repatriations and urging intervention in the case. The open letter calls for the workers to be transferred to a new employer.

The allegations follow previous reporting of labour rights violations at Mediceram. Reporting says that, while Mediceram refunded the workers’ recruitment fees, the workers’ visas remained expired, which led to repeated protests throughout the year.

According to reporting by ABC News in September 2025, a complaint was lodged with the federal Treasury in Australia (which runs the Australian National Contact Point for Responsible Business Conduct) against buyer Ansell, alleging a range of abuses at Mediceram, including wage theft, debt bondage and forced labour. Ansell told ABC News that it investigated the allegations and "identified a number of issues that did not meet international labour standards". Mediceram denied the allegations.

In November 2025, the Business & Human Rights Centre (BHRC) invited Mediceram, Top Glove, YTY and Ansell to respond to the allegations and to disclose the steps they have taken to investigate and remedy workers for the abuse reported. We also invited the buyers to disclose any human rights due diligence they undertake prior to entering into contracts with suppliers and when monitoring working conditions at suppliers. Responses from Mediceram, Ansell, Top Glove and YTY can be read below.

Later in November, several news outlets reported that around 100 workers employed by Mediceram and another Malaysian company, Kawaguchi Manufacturing, protested in Kuala Lumpur demanding unpaid wages, fair compensation and an end to labour rights abuse (The Associated Press could not immediately reach the companies for comment - see more on abuses at Kawaguchi Manufacturing here, including responses from the buyers). It was also reported that Ansell suspended its relationship with Mediceram (see Ansell's press release here), and that the workers have filed a police complaint against Mediceram.

Following this, 26 more workers allegedly received tickets from Mediceram for return flights to Bangladesh against their will. Mediceram also allegedly refused to allow the workers to change employer.

In light of these ongoing abuses, an article in Green Left alleged Ansell’s supply chains ‘maintain slave-like conditions’. Further, ABC News reported that a shareholder activist said Ansell’s systems to prevent abuse in its supply chain are “not working”. Reporting also said institutional investor Allan Gray, which owns 15 percent of Ansell, has been in 'close contact' with the company over the issue.

Following these continued allegations of human rights violations, BHRC invited the buyers to again respond to the allegations of ongoing abuse; disclose steps they have taken and will continue to take to use their leverage to ensure timely remediation; and disclose any human rights due diligence they undertake across their supply chains prior to entering into contracts with suppliers and when monitoring working conditions at suppliers. BHRC also invited Ansell to confirm whether it has suspended its business relationship with Mediceram and to disclose steps it has taken to prevent or mitigate adverse impacts from the suspension of its relationship with Mediceram and disengage responsibly in line with international principles.

BHRC also invited Allan Gray respond to the allegations of ongoing abuse impacting workers in the supply chain Ansell; disclose steps it has taken and will take to use its leverage to ensure timely remediation for the impacted workers; and to disclose any human rights due diligence it takes to inform its investment decisions, including steps it takes to identify, prevent, mitigate and account for adverse impacts by investee companies or in the supply chain of investee companies.

Responses from Ansell, YTY and Top Glove can be read in full below - Ansell confirmed it suspended its supplier relationship with Mediceram, and Top Glove also said it suspended its relationship with the company. Allan Gray did not respond.