Milwaukee Tool Denies Claims It Sources Gloves Made With Chinese Convict Labor

Milwaukee Tool reportedly denied recent claims that it is selling gloves in the U.S. that are produced at a Chinese prison with convict labor. Posted to the website of the U.K. non-profit Business & Human Rights Resource Centre, the statement refutes allegations from the wife of a Chinese human rights lawyer that the prison where her husband is jailed for subversion is manufacturing Milwaukee gloves sold at major U.S. retailers for little pay and under inhumane working conditions.

“Milwaukee Tool does not tolerate the use of forced labor,” it said in the statement. “We have strict policies and procedures in place to ensure that no authorized Milwaukee Tool products are manufactured by using forced labor. Milwaukee Tool only partners with suppliers that similarly commit to ethical labor practices throughout their supply chains, and who ensure that no forced labor is used,” it said. “Milwaukee Tool regularly conducts a complete and thorough review of our global operations and supply chain. A thorough investigation of these claims was conducted, and we have found no evidence to support the claims being made.”

Milwaukee did not respond to a request for comment when contacted directly.

According to a petition from Shi Minglei, wife of Cheng Yuan, prisoners in Hunan Chishan prison produced from 4,800 to 14,400 units of Milwaukee gloves daily. The gloves are sold at Home Depot and other major U.S. retailers, the petition said. Prisoners work 13-15 hours per day, and are given only four days off per year. Their pay is $13.80 per month, which is 2% of a normal Chinese factory worker’s salary, Shi said.

In a letter to Walmart asking the company to stop carrying the gloves, Shi said she has reported Milwaukee to CBP for the alleged forced labor violations. The customs laws on forced labor at 19 USC 1307 prohibit imports produced with “convict labor or/and forced labor or/and indentured labor under penal sanctions.” The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre said Walmart didn’t respond. Walmart did not immediately respond to our request for comment.