Toyota’s Human Rights Violations

The world’s leader in “green” transportation – Toyota Motor Corp – has been accused of serious human rights violations, including the trafficking of foreign workers from China, Vietnam and surrounding countries.

The 65-page report released by the National Labor Committee dishes out such allegations as taking passports of guest workers, forcing them to live  in cramped, over-priced company-owned apartments, working them 16 hr days, 7 days a week for less than half the minimum wage and no overtime pay … and deporting people who complained.

While much of the supposed abuse is committed by support companies, Toyota is under fire for hiring temp workers they pay less and refuse benefits, then putting them on the longest shifts and in the most dangerous working conditions. Regular employees are forced to work “volunteer” overtime (read: unpaid) … courts have ruled that Toyota has worked several employees “to death.”

Toyota is also coming under fire for the arms of their business operating in other countries. In the Philippines, the report claims once given the legal right to form a union, Toyota fired over 200 people who’d taken union positions and suspended over 60 employees who’d attended the meetings. The government has been unable to force the company to comply with workers’ rights. In Japan, the unions – according to employees interviewed by the NLC – exist solely to protect the company’s interests.

It does appear Toyota willfully and purposefully robs workers of their human rights, but you should read and decide for yourself.

Toyota is also linked to business in Burma, something it declared it would not be involved in way back in 2001. You can read more details on that situation – and Toyota’s response to the claims – at Trillium Asset Management.

How will this information affect the company? If it’s true, and if Toyota refuses to treat their workers with the respect they deserve, I believe it could be devastating for the company. Would you buy today, knowing about these things?

More will come on this topic, I’m sure.

Source: NLCNET.ORG
[Image: Newscom]