Contractors working on overseas pavilions for the 2025 World Exposition have submitted an open letter of inquiry to the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition, the event’s organiser, claiming that construction fees remain unpaid. One subcontractor for the Angola Pavilion alleges that the rush construction schedule led to long working hours and continuous shifts.

The letter points out that under the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, non-payment of wages is identified as a “key type of human rights risk,” arguing that failing to compensate labour is a violation of human rights.

The Business & Human Rights Resource Centre invited the Japan Association for the 2025 World Exposition to respond to the allegations. They responded as below.