Gluonic pole matrix elements explain the appearance of single spin
asymmetries (SSA) in high-energy scattering processes. They involve
a combination of operators which are odd under time reversal (T-odd).
Such matrix elements appear in principle both for parton
distribution functions  and parton fragmentation functions.
We show first in a model calculation and then in a model independent
manner that for parton fragmentation functions these gluonic pole
matrix elements vanish. This result is important in the study of
the universality of transverse momentum dependent fragmentation functions.