Sony, Panasonic and Daikin are looking into delayed salary payments and alleged human rights violations at its Klang-based supplier Kawaguchi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd.

Earlier this month, it was reported that hundreds of Bangladeshi workers employed by the plastics manufacturing company were allegedly not paid for up to six months, were forced to work seven days a week, subjected to exorbitant recruitment fees, and were housed in overcrowded and unhygienic accommodation.

International non-profit organisation Business & Human Rights Resource Centre (BHRRC) then invited Sony, Panasonic and Daikin to confirm whether they still sourced components from Kawaguchi.

It also urged the companies to disclose any human rights due diligence that they had undertaken prior to entering into contracts with suppliers, and disclose the steps they had taken to investigate and remedy the violations reported.

In response, the three Japanese electronics firms all confirmed they sourced from Kawaguchi, adding that they were looking to find appropriate solutions to the issues raised by the workers. The responses were posted on BHRRC’s website today...