Recently, the United States banned the import of Malaysian gloves on the grounds of forced labor. Since then, Wee Jeck Seng, Deputy Minister of Plantation and Commodities of Malaysia, believes that the furniture industry must avoid repeating the mistakes of glove manufacturers and provide its workers with decent accommodation and benefits.

According to Wee, if Malaysia' s furniture industry’s main export markets, the United States and Europe, ban their imports because of evidence of forced labor, the furniture industry will suffer huge losses.

He also said that the furniture industry must ensure that their foreign workers are not treated as slaves and that when building dormitories for foreign workers, they must meet the minimum standards of the employee accommodation and facilities act of 1990.

However, a furniture factory recently broke out that it failed to provide enough housing for its workers, and some people worry that exports may be affected.