00:00The 251 foreign workers from Bangladesh formerly employed by Kawaguchi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd,
00:08who have not been paid for seven months, plan to sue two prominent Japanese companies in
00:14Washington DC.
00:16The lawsuit, coordinated by migrant worker rights activist Andy Hall with US lawyer Terence
00:21P Collingsworth, alleged that the companies engaged in exploitation, mistreatment and
00:27withholding of wages.
00:29FMT is withholding the names of the companies.
00:32However, it is known that the workers will seek damages, compensation and an apology,
00:37with claims exceeding their initial demands made during failed negotiations.
00:43Hall has also helped file a formal complaint against these companies with the Organisation
00:48for Economic Co-operation and Development in Tokyo.
00:52He said the companies have been uncooperative, offering only RM20,000 to each worker which
00:57is insufficient to cover their recruitment-related debts, pushing some towards debt bondage.
01:03Hall added that despite an agreement on December 18 for Kawaguchi to pay the overdue salaries
01:09by November 2025, doubts remain about its fulfilment, prompting the need for legal action.
01:16The company reached the decision five days after the workers held a peaceful protest
01:20outside the factory in Port Klang to demand the salaries owed to them.
01:25Pan Yujo, FMT News.
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