A Danwatch investigation

Forced labour

behind your screen

Malaysia

28. June 2019

Nikolaj Houmann Mortensen

Journalist

Research: Sara Kaas-Petersen / Photo: Amin Kamrani

Editor: Jesper Hyhne | Need more information about this investigation? Please contact us here

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Millions of migrant workers from Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Myanmar work in factories in Malaysia. Many of them are producing components for some of the world’s most popular electronics brands.

The migrants are promised decent wages, working and living conditions. But many workers end up in debt bondage and forced labour.

Danwatch interviewed migrants working at a Malaysian factory supplying some of Europe’s and the US’ largest computer chip makers.

The workers claim they had their passports confiscated, received violent threats and were deceived about major parts of their wages. According to experts, the working conditions constitute forced labour.

Danwatch interviewed other migrants who had worked at a factory supplying Panasonic and Toshiba. The workers claim the factory confiscated their passports and demanded excessive sums of money to give them back. As a result, several workers are now stuck in Malaysia without documents.

The electronics brands are now investigating the cases.

The investigation in 8 minutes and 33 seconds

A Danwatch Investigation

The investigation divided into articles. You decide where to begin.

Forced labour behind European electronics

Migrants working at a Malaysian factory supplying some of Europe’s and the US’ largest computer chip makers claim they have been subjected to forced labour, violent threats, passport confiscation and illegal wage deductions. Employer denies all accusations.

‘I feel scared going out’: How migrant workers become outlaws in Malaysia’s electronics industry

After closing down part of the production and sacking its migrant employees, a Malaysian factory supplying Panasonic and Toshiba demanded excessive sums of money to give workers their confiscated passports back, workers claim. Factory management denies accusations.

How the global electronics industry came to rely on forced labour and debt bondage

Malaysia has become one of the world’s greatest exporters of the basis of all modern electronics: computer chips. But in the process, the country became addicted to the labour of poor migrants working under modern slavery-resembling conditions.

The labour supply chain: how foreign workers end up indebted in Malaysia

Young workers from around Asia may end up paying more than 4.000 euros to get employed in Malaysia. A whole “syndicate” of agents profit from this business which results in “ridiculous amounts of money being paid under the table”, according to experts.

Where do Malaysian electronics end up?

Malaysia is one of the world’s leading exporters of the computer chips that are found inside nearly all our electronic equipment. It is, however, not easy to trace exactly where all those Malaysian chips end up.

What are the responsibilities of the international electronics brands?

Malaysia is one of the world’s leading exporters of the computer chips that are found inside nearly all our electronic equipment. It is, however, not easy to trace exactly where all those Malaysian chips end up.