Supreme Court rules forced labor claims against Dyson to go to trial in 2027
The High Court has ruled that the claims of forced labour, modern slavery and exploitation brought by Dyson will proceed to a full trial in April 2027.
In a judgment issued today, following a conference of case managers in December 2025, the court confirmed that the allegations brought by 24 former employees will be examined in the cases of six plaintiffs. The case will focus on working and living conditions in Malaysian factories within Dyson’s electronics supply chain and will determine whether Dyson companies are legally responsible for the alleged abuses.
Any compensation and claims of the remaining workers will be dealt with in a separate hearing, which will be followed up if a case is found.
The plaintiffs, represented by law firm Leigh Day, allege that while they were employed by Malaysian suppliers ATA Industrial (M) Sdn Bhd and Jabco Filter System Sdn Bhd, they were subjected to forced labor practices and false imprisonment while manufacturing parts of Dyson’s supply chain.
As part of the ruling, the High Court ordered Dyson to disclose a series of documents that were previously the subject of dismissed defamation proceedings brought by Dyson against Channel 4 News and ITN over reporting of alleged abuse of staff. The documents to be disclosed include minutes of an internal meeting between Dyson and ATA in 2021, audit reports conducted between 2019 and 2021, letters from Dyson’s chief legal officer, and records related to requests for workers to work on days off to increase production rates.
Mr Justice Pepperall emphasized the importance of ensuring that claimants, described as poor and vulnerable migrant workers, are able to participate on an equal footing with Dyson, a well-resourced international group. He pointed out the seriousness of the allegations of human rights violations and urged both sides to pursue this case with cooperation and truth.
The judge also noted the delay caused by Dyson’s unsuccessful attempt to have the case tried in Malaysia instead of England and stressed the need for the case to proceed without further disruption.
During the hearing, the court was told that Leigh Day had been contacted by hundreds of other migrant workers with similar allegations against Dyson. Up to 100 additional cases could be set to open this year, although the judge said any further claims should not disrupt the existing trial timetable.
In the coming months, expert testimony and facts will be gathered and more will be revealed, including Dyson’s internal documents related to its knowledge of labor conditions within the supply chain.
Oliver Holland, international partner at Leigh Day and lead claimant lawyer, said the decision had greatly strengthened the position of his clients and strengthened access to justice in England and Wales.
“The Supreme Court has recognized the need for equality of arms in a case of this nature,” he said. “This ruling helps ensure that our clients, who are among the world’s poorest workers, can participate properly in proceedings against a global corporation. We are committed to prosecuting the case properly and achieving justice as quickly as possible.”
The case will be closely watched by business, legal and ESG experts as scrutiny of supply chain practices and corporate accountability continues to intensify.
