...On 27 December 2024, 251 workers of Kawaguchi Manufacturing Sdn. Bhd. (“Kawaguchi Manufacturing”), represented by lawyers, filed a complaint against Kawaguchi Manufacturing, Sony Corporation (“Sony”) and Panasonic Corporation (“Panasonic”) at the Japanese NCP. The complaint concerns alleged labour rights violations at Kawaguchi Manufacturing in Malaysia and their links to Sony and Panasonic.

The complainants allege that workers at Kawaguchi Manufacturing have experienced violations indicative of forced labour, including non-payment of wages, confiscation of passports, intimation and charging of high recruitment fees, among other labour rights violations. They allege that Sony and Panasonic, who sourced from Kawaguchi Manufacturing, failed to adequately engage with the workers and provide for remediation. They allege that Sony and Panasonic discontinued their business with Kawaguchi Manufacturing instead, which drove Kawaguchi Manufacturing to cease operations.

The complainants are seeking repayment of unpaid wages and recruitment fees and compensation for mental damage...