Goodyear’s Malaysian tyre plant under investigation

Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co’s Malaysian tyre factory has been under scrutiny for at least two years following questions relating to working conditions. At the end of November, US Department of Homeland Security officials interviewed local staff as part of investigations that “could lead to US prosecutions”, according to Reuters, which added Goodyear faces “related lawsuits and two ongoing investigations by regulators in Malaysia and the United States, each looking into potential exploitation of foreign workers.”

According to Reuters, Homeland Security’s questioning is the result of “three complaints by 185 migrant workers from Nepal, India and Myanmar…against Goodyear Malaysia in the country’s industrial court in 2019 and 2020.” Those complaints allege “unpaid wages, citing non-compliance with a collective agreement, wrongful deductions and threats to migrant workers.”

In response to the investigation and related reporting, Goodyear issued the following statement: “Goodyear takes seriously any allegations of improper behaviour and is committed to ensuring that our business practices and those of our associates, our supply chain, and our vendors adhere to both our policies and all applicable legal requirements.”

The company continued by committing to review the matter: “Goodyear and Goodyear Malaysia are currently undertaking a thorough review of the matter, including retaining an independent social auditing firm to inspect working and housing conditions.”

Goodyear also confirmed that the US-based tyre maker has already settled with “workers represented in the labour dispute”. Moving forward, Goodyear said it “will not hesitate to take appropriate actions to resolve any activity that is found to be in violation of our policies, the law or our code of conduct.”