Malaysia: First Solar finds subcontractors in Malaysia subjected migrant workers to conditions of forced labour, incl. co comments
Summary
Date Reported: 15 Aug 2023
Location: Malaysia
Companies
First Solar - BuyerOther
Not Reported ( Security companies ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Security companies , Gender not reported )Issues
Wage Theft , Recruitment Fees , Withholding Passports , Forced Labour & Modern Slavery , Restricted mobilityResponse
Response sought: Yes, by New York Times
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: In a reported "industry first", US solar panel manufacturer First Solar disclosed results of its audit at its Malaysia factory which uncovered "unethical labor practices". Following the findings, First Solar has said it had taken steps to remediate the abuse, including returning passports, wages and recruitment fees to the impacted workers. The company also said it had taken action to ensure workers received one day off in seven and that working hours did not exceed this. First Solar CEO said the decision to disclose the findings was in line with the company's commitments to transparency and raise awareness of labour exploitation risk in its and the industry's supply chain. The company is reportedly engaging with the four involved subcontractors to change their practices. Further, at the end of August, the Malaysian Government announced an investigation into the four contractors. A spokesperson confirmed First Solar had made sure the migrant workers received their salaries and had their passports returned to them.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 15 Aug 2023
Location: Malaysia
Companies
First Solar - BuyerOther
Not Reported ( Cleaning & maintenance ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Cleaning & maintenance , Gender not reported )Issues
Recruitment Fees , Wage Theft , Restricted mobility , Forced Labour & Modern Slavery , Withholding PassportsResponse
Response sought: Yes, by New York Times
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: In a reported "industry first", US solar panel manufacturer First Solar disclosed results of its audit at its Malaysia factory which uncovered "unethical labor practices". Following the findings, First Solar has said it had taken steps to remediate the abuse, including returning passports, wages and recruitment fees to the impacted workers. The company also said it had taken action to ensure workers received one day off in seven and that working hours did not exceed this. First Solar CEO said the decision to disclose the findings was in line with the company's commitments to transparency and raise awareness of labour exploitation risk in its and the industry's supply chain. The company is reportedly engaging with the four involved subcontractors to change their practices. Further, at the end of August, the Malaysian Government announced an investigation into the four contractors. A spokesperson confirmed First Solar had made sure the migrant workers received their salaries and had their passports returned to them.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 15 Aug 2023
Location: Malaysia
Companies
First Solar - BuyerOther
Not Reported ( Cleaning & maintenance ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Cleaning & maintenance , Gender not reported )Issues
Forced Labour & Modern Slavery , Wage Theft , Recruitment Fees , Withholding Passports , Restricted mobilityResponse
Response sought: Yes, by The New York Times
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: In a reported "industry first", US solar panel manufacturer First Solar disclosed results of its audit at its Malaysia factory which uncovered "unethical labor practices". Following the findings, First Solar has said it had taken steps to remediate the abuse, including returning passports, wages and recruitment fees to the impacted workers. The company also said it had taken action to ensure workers received one day off in seven and that working hours did not exceed this. First Solar CEO said the decision to disclose the findings was in line with the company's commitments to transparency and raise awareness of labour exploitation risk in its and the industry's supply chain. The company is reportedly engaging with the four involved subcontractors to change their practices. Further, at the end of August, the Malaysian Government announced an investigation into the four contractors. A spokesperson confirmed First Solar had made sure the migrant workers received their salaries and had their passports returned to them.
Source type: News outlet
Summary
Date Reported: 15 Aug 2023
Location: Malaysia
Companies
First Solar - BuyerOther
Not Reported ( Storage ) - EmployerAffected
Total individuals affected: Number unknown
Migrant & immigrant workers: ( Number unknown - Location unknown , Storage , Gender not reported )Issues
Recruitment Fees , Forced Labour & Modern Slavery , Withholding Passports , Wage Theft , Restricted mobilityResponse
Response sought: Yes, by The New York Times
External link to response: (Find out more)
Action taken: In a reported "industry first", US solar panel manufacturer First Solar disclosed results of its audit at its Malaysia factory which uncovered "unethical labor practices". Following the findings, First Solar has said it had taken steps to remediate the abuse, including returning passports, wages and recruitment fees to the impacted workers. The company also said it had taken action to ensure workers received one day off in seven and that working hours did not exceed this. First Solar CEO said the decision to disclose the findings was in line with the company's commitments to transparency and raise awareness of labour exploitation risk in its and the industry's supply chain. The company is reportedly engaging with the four involved subcontractors to change their practices. Further, at the end of August, the Malaysian Government announced an investigation into the four contractors. A spokesperson confirmed First Solar had made sure the migrant workers received their salaries and had their passports returned to them.
Source type: News outlet
“Solar Company Says Audit Finds Forced Labor in Malaysian Factory”
…First Solar, a leading U.S. solar panel manufacturer, said on Tuesday that an audit had found that migrant workers in its operations in Malaysia were victims of forced labor.
The independent audit, which was included in a corporate sustainability report, found that four subcontractors in Malaysia had charged the workers recruitment fees in their home countries and withheld their pay and passports…
Global supply chains for solar panels have for years relied on China, in particular for polysilicon, a crucial component in most solar panels made around the world. But a recent ban on products from Xinjiang, a region where the U.S. government and United Nations accuse the Chinese government of committing human rights violations, including forced labor, has led to a shift away from China…
First Solar produces a solar panel that does not use polysilicon and, as a result, appeared immune from the supply chain concerns related to Xinjiang…
“We highlight this information openly, not only because of our commitment to transparency and Responsible Solar, but also to raise awareness of modern slavery risks that hide in plain sight,” Mark R. Widmar, chief executive of First Solar, said in a statement…
The company said it is requiring the four subcontractors to change how they treat workers and agree to periodic reviews…
…moving supply chains out of China does not always resolve companies’ problems….
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