“Channel 4 and ITN (the programme’s producer) confirm that Dyson has abandoned its claim against the programme, two years after it investigated appalling conditions in Malaysian factories where Dyson products were made,” Channel 4 said, Reuters reported.

It said the outcome “underscores the vital role of robust, independent investigative reporting that is clearly in the public interest and sets an important precedent for the future of investigative journalism in the UK”.

In response, Dyson said it strenuously denied “the false claims made by Channel 4 News in its broadcast.” The company said it was its supplier ATA IMS, an independent manufacturer “that must answer questions about its treatment of its workers in Malaysia”.

Dyson said it severed ties with ATA IMS in 2021.

The company said it would never condone the mistreatment of workers anywhere in the world and would defend its reputation when it is necessary.

Dyson filed its libel claim against Channel 4 at the High Court in London in July 2023.

The Channel 4 report in February 2022 revealed how the mostly migrant workers spent up to 15 hours a day at work, often asked to skip rest days to keep up with demand, and coached to hide true working and living conditions from labour inspectors and Dyson.

The workers said they paid the equivalent of several months’ wages to recruitment agents working for the factory.

In exchange, they were provided with visas and flown into Malaysia to work, allegedly finding themselves in debt bondage and paid below minimum wage, sometimes earning less than US$10 (RM46) a day.

Many said they were forced to resort to borrowing money from loan sharks, exacerbating their debts and vulnerability.

They alleged that their passports were retained for the duration of their employment, making it impossible to find other work, and so were trapped into working at the factory.

The minimum daily shift for the claimants was 12 hours long, but they alleged that they were forced to work up to 18 hours without a break and were refused annual leave.

They added that their work visas were allowed to lapse, making them illegal immigrants and they lived in constant fear of arrest.

They alleged they were charged rent to live in a mass dormitory with up to 80 people sleeping in stacked beds in one room, poor sanitation, overcrowding, no air conditioning, unclean and broken toilet facilities.

They also alleged that Dyson had known about the situation since November 2019 when they were notified by whistleblower Andy Hall.