In one of the most shocking tales of 2008, Japanese auto giant Toyota is being charged with many counts of human abuse and “sweatshop-like” tactics in the building of some of their vehicles. What’s even worse is that the allegations also alleged that Toyota has “ties to Burmese dictators” through the Toyota Tsusho Corporation.

The National Labor Committee on Wednesday issued a 65-page report, “The Toyota You Don’t Know,” which accuses the Japanese automaker of using “low-wage temps” to build the popular Toyota Prius. “Toyota’s much admired ‘Just in Time’ auto parts supply chain is riddled with sweatshop abuse, including the trafficking of foreign guest workers, mostly from China and Vietnam to Japan, who are stripped of their passports and often forced to work, including at subcontract plants supplying Toyota, 16 hours a day, seven days a week, while being paid less than half the legal minimum wage,” the group said in a statement.

Wow, this is heavy stuff. A company like Toyota is right in the global spotlight, and to have something like this come to light is quite serious. If these allegations do indeed prove to be true, Toyota’s future might be at stake. I for one, would never buy another Toyota product ever again if it proves to be true.

Toyota recently responded to the charges with a brief statement. “We are reviewing the lengthy report issued today by the National Labor Committee,” the automaker said. “As the well-being of our workforce and suppliers is one of our highest priorities, we are taking the allegations seriously.” Toyota spokesman Curt McAllister told the press on Thursday that the automaker has no further comment on the controversial report. Typical, they are now in save-face mode and probably scrambling like headless chickens.

Accompanied by the report by the National Labor Committee was a particular statement. To draw specific attention to the Toyota Prius hybrid and the many celebrities who promote and actively recommend the car, the committee stated; “Celebrities like Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pit, Bill Maher and others have led the way in turning Toyota’s Prius into a symbol of concern for our environment,” They than added; “We hope that these same celebrities will now also challenge Toyota to improve its respect for human and worker rights. As a start, Toyota should cut its ties to the Burmese dictators and end the exploitation of foreign guest workers trafficked to Japan,”said Charles Kernaghan, director of the National Labor Committee.

The National Labor Committee made headlines in 1999 for a report that targeted talk-show host Kathie Lee Gifford. The famous report accused her of using “sweatshops in El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras” to produce a her own name-branded clothing line. The allegations turned out to be true, and Ms. Gifford publicly apologized and claimed she was unaware at the time.

If these allegations about Toyota do indeed seem to be true, then it would be the biggest news in 2008, at least for the auto industry. Things like this need to be exposed. Human rights are very important and the least we can do is make sure that work conditions are safe and fair for all those people working hard to make your trendy hybrid.