Dyson Reaches Settlement in High Court Lawsuit Over Forced Labour Allegations in Malaysia

Dyson settles a High Court lawsuit with 24 migrant workers over forced labour claims in Malaysia. No liability was admitted in the landmark supply chain case.

By: AXL Media

Published: Feb 27, 2026, 6:09 AM EST

Source: The information in this article was sourced from CNA

Resolution of a Landmark Legal Battle

British vacuum cleaner manufacturer Dyson has reached a settlement with two dozen migrant workers who alleged they were subjected to forced labour conditions in Malaysia. The 24 claimants, originating from Nepal and Bangladesh, initially filed their lawsuit in London’s High Court in 2022. One of the workers passed away during the proceedings, with their estate continuing the legal action. The case centered on conditions at ATA Industrial, a Malaysian firm that manufactured components for Dyson products until the contract was terminated in 2021.

Allegations of Abuse and Corporate Responsibility

The legal team representing the workers, Leigh Day, had previously detailed harrowing allegations of mistreatment at the Malaysian facilities. Claimants alleged they were subjected to beatings for failing to meet production targets and suffered from unlawful deductions from their wages. The lawsuit argued that Dyson Technology Ltd and its subsidiaries were ultimately responsible for the welfare of workers within their supply chain. This case was closely watched as a significant test of whether multinational corporations can be held legally accountable in their home jurisdictions for the actions of third-party suppliers abroad.

Dyson Maintains Denials of Liability

The settlement was finalized without Dyson admitting any liability. In a statement released by the law firm Leigh Day, it was noted that the resolution was reached to avoid the significant expenses of protracted litigation. Dyson has consistently denied all allegations throughout the four year dispute, asserting that the factories were owned and operated by an independent entity, ATA Industrial. A Dyson spokesperson reiterated that the company took swift action by cancelling its relationship with the supplier once the concerns were initially raised in 2021.