The darker side to global supply chains was again well illustrated recently in slavery like conditions endured by hundreds of Bangladeshi migrant workers at Kawaguchi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, a Malaysian supplier of plastic parts for TVs and air conditioners to Sony, Panasonic and Daikin.

Substantial remedy for these workers was eventually provided by the three Japanese consumer goods giants. But state, United Nations, private sector and civil society actors were unable to effectively detect, prevent, mitigate and remediate their suffering in a timely manner.

When 250 of Kawaguchi’s former workers staged a strike in August 2024 over months of unpaid wages, a lack of state and buyer oversight of this labour intensive, export oriented workplace was evident.

The situation was emblematic of systemic forced labour affecting millions of migrants globally.

Vulnerable people from poorer countries seek a better life in Malaysia utilising precarious, unregulated migration channels — and end up in modern slavery.

Allegations in this case were similar to those raised by migrant workers across Malaysia. Long working hours, low wages, unlawful deductions, unsanitary housing, harassment, wrongful dismissal, irregular immigration status, lack of access to healthcare and social security, limited freedom of movement and acute debt bondage from unethical and illicit recruitment processes…