More than a dozen US-based Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) employees have filed a class-action lawsuit against the company, alleging discrimination against non-Asian workers.

The suit, initially filed in August and refiled last week as a class action, claims that the world’s largest contract chipmaker unfairly favors Asian employees in hiring, firing, and workplace conditions.

The plaintiffs, a group of 13 employees from diverse backgrounds, including the United States, Mexico, Nigeria, Europe, and Korea, allege that TSMC creates a hostile work environment for non-Asian workers. According to the lawsuit, non-Asian employees face verbal abuse, gaslighting, isolation, and humiliation, which often lead to their “constructive discharge.”

One of the plaintiffs, TSMC recruitment manager Deborah Howington, first filed the lawsuit, stating that non-Asian workers are frequently excluded from business discussions, often conducted in Mandarin. Business documents are also allegedly routinely written in Mandarin, limiting non-Asian employees’ participation.

TSMC has responded to the allegations with a statement asserting its commitment to workforce diversity. “We hire and promote without regard to gender, religion, race, nationality, or political affiliation because we respect differences and believe that equal employment opportunities strengthen our competitiveness,” the company stated Thursday.

TSMC also highlighted its strategic importance in producing the advanced microchips essential for generative AI, powering products made by Silicon Valley giants like Apple and Nvidia.

The Taiwanese chipmaking giant, which has received billions of dollars in US funding and has agreed to operate three factories in Arizona, did not comment directly on the lawsuit.

TSMC instead emphasized its strong belief in the value of a diverse workforce. The plaintiffs seek damages to address the alleged discriminatory practices and workplace environment.