First Solar: Transparency in Supply Chains and Modern Slavery Statement
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In 2022, First Solar conducted three onsite third-party RBA Validated Assessment Program (VAP) audits at our manufacturing facilities in Ohio, Malaysia and Vietnam to provide further validation to our customers that they are working with a responsible partner. Our manufacturing facilities in Ohio and Vietnam achieved platinum status, the highest possible rating. Through our Malaysia audit, we identified four onsite service providers with foreign migrant workers subjected to unethical recruitment including the payment of recruitment fees in their home countries, passport retention, and the unlawful retention of wages. Our onsite service providers have since returned all passports and unlawful wage detentions to the workers, and we updated our site service agreements to prevent future fees. First Solar contracted a third party to conduct an investigation and help develop a reimbursement plan. We are working with our onsite service providers to ensure the recruitment fees in their home country and fees during their employment in Malaysia are paid back to both current and recently departed workers in accordance with RBA guidelines and best practices.
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