Employees of Kawaguchi Manufacturing vs. Kawaguchi Manufacturing, Sony and Panasonic

Allégations

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.

Les directives pertinentes de l’OCDE

• Chapitre II
• Chapitre II Paragraphe A12
• Chapter II Paragraph A13
• Chapter II Paragraph A15
• Chapitre II Paragraphe A2
• Chapitre IV
• Chapitre IV Paragraphe 1
• Chapitre IV Paragraphe 2
• Chapitre IV Paragraphe 3
• Chapter V
• Chapter V Paragraph 1C
• Chapter V Paragraph 1D
• Chapter V Paragraph 1F
• Part 1

Résultat

On 27 June 2025 and 17 July 2025, Sony and Panasonic respectively submitted statements to the Japanese NCP in mid-2025 explaining their due diligence policies and actions in relation to the issues raised in the complaint. Sony stated that its investigation, including a third-party audit, had confirmed violations of its Supply Chain Code of Conduct at Kawaguchi Manufacturing and that it had implemented remedial measures for the workers. Panasonic stated that it had concluded Kawaguchi Manufacturing’s treatment of the workers to be in breach of Panasonic’s human rights and labour policies and supply chain guidelines, and that it had exercised leverage to ensure remedy from Kawaguchi Manufacturing while independently reimbursing recruitment fees paid by workers.

On 17 July 2025 and 22 September 2025, the complainants informed the NCP that an agreement had been reached with Sony and Panasonic respectively and that they were withdrawing the complaints against both companies.

On 24 April 2026, the Japanese NCP issued its Final Statement detailing the above developments.

Plus de détails

Documents

• 24 April 2026

  Déclaration finale

  NCP Japan
• 27 December 2024

  Complaint filed to Japan NCP

  Complainants