“Panasonic, rights group reach settlement over 250 ‘unpaid’ foreign workers”

…More than 250 Bangladesh workers who reportedly were not paid for seven months last year are to receive a significant amount in settlement of their dispute with their former employer.

The settlement was reached by the Japanese multinational Panasonic and the watchdog group International Rights Advocates (IRAdvocates) which took up the workers case.

The foreign workers were formerly employed by Kawaguchi Manufacturing Sdn Bhd, a supplier of components to Panasonic.

The amount of the settlement was not disclosed, but FMT was made to understand that it was a significant sum.

Migrant labour rights activist Andy Hall, who referred the Kawaguchi case to IRAdvocates late last year, said he was pleased that there had been some level of accountability in the matter.

“I am relieved that the workers debt has finally been fully removed, they have been compensated for the salaries that Kawaguchi didn’t pay and they have been provided a substantial amount of additional compensation for their suffering,” he said.

Terrence Collingsworth, founder and executive director of IRAdvocates, said Panasonic provided the workers with “much-needed financial assistance” through reimbursement of recruitment fees which the workers said they had paid…