Panasonic and IOM Join Hands to Protect Migrant Workers’ Rights

Last updated on February 27th, 2024 at 06:38 am

Panasonic Holdings Corporation and the International Organization for Migration (IOM) have signed a Global Framework Agreement to safeguard the rights of migrant workers in supply chains. This collaboration comes at a time when the Asia-Pacific region accounts for the highest number of forced labour victims globally, with a staggering 86 per cent of such incidents traced back to the private sector, where migrant workers are disproportionately exploited.

Amy Pope, IOM Director General, expressed her enthusiasm for the partnership, stating, “This agreement represents a pivotal step in our joint efforts to promote ethical recruitment and responsible employment and to combat forced labour. We look forward to collaborating with Panasonic on ways to protect and reinforce the rights and well-being of migrant workers around the world.”

Collaborative Efforts in Malaysia

Since 2018, Panasonic Group Companies in Malaysia have been working with IOM to formulate policies and procedures for the ethical recruitment and employment of international migrant workers. By identifying and addressing issues through on-site operational checks, they aim to establish effective management systems to safeguard the labour and human rights of all workers in their supply chains.

Shigeki Mishima, Group Chief Human Resources Officer at Panasonic Holdings, emphasized the company’s commitment, saying, “The partnership with IOM demonstrates our commitment to ensuring freely chosen employment in our operations and supply chains. It is an exciting next step in our continuous improvement journey in addressing the risks of forced labour and challenges migrant workers face collaboratively and innovatively.”

Strengthening Migrant Workers’ Rights

The agreement provides a framework for further collaboration to respect migrant workers in line with the United National Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights and IOM’s Migrant Worker Guidelines for Employers. This includes providing technical advice, reviewing Panasonic’s corporate policies and procedures in Malaysia, capacity building with Panasonic’s business partners, and conducting migrant-centered human rights due diligence assessments.

IOM recognizes that safeguarding the rights of migrant workers is a shared responsibility and a foundation of regular labour pathways. Grounded in the ‘Protect, Respect, and Remedy’ framework of the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGPs), IOM collaborates with governments, businesses, and civil society members to uphold migrant workers’ rights.

Promoting Ethical Recruitment and Regular Migration

Through its flagship regional programme, the Migration, Business and Human Rights Programme in Asia (MBHR Asia), IOM continues working with partners to strengthen the integration of migration in the business and human rights dialogue, encourage ethical recruitment and responsible employment, and promote regular labour migration pathways as an alternative to irregular migration.