Japan firm says doesn't have money for Ecuador 'slavery' compensation

A Japanese textile company, ordered by Ecuadoran courts to pay $41 million to compensate its workers for keeping them in slave-like conditions, claimed Saturday it lacks the money to pay up.

Ecuador's Constitutional Court last week ordered the company, Furukawa, to pay $120,000 to each of the 342 victims, a total of around $41 million. It will also have to make a public apology to them. Former employees had complained of dire living and working conditions.

In testimonials earlier this month, some said they had to give birth to children in unsanitary and overcrowded camps, while others were denied proper medical attention after work-related injuries. Furukawa has contested the constitutional court's decision, arguing that there were inconsistencies.