Thai Frozen Foods hits back at claims
THE THAI Frozen Foods Association yesterday brushed aside an Associated Press report on the use of forced and child labour in shrimp plants exporting to the US market.
Poj Aramwattananont, president of the association, said shrimp plants in Samut Sakhon no longer employed children or illegal foreign workers.
The association will next Monday hold a press conference to clarify the situation and provide an update on the measures taken by the Thai government, fisheries and related enterprises to stamp out illegal and forced labour over the past six months.
The European Union has issued a warning to Thailand, citing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices, while the US has left Thailand languishing in Tier 3, the lowest level of its annual Trafficking in Persons report. Poj said Thailand has done a lot during the past year to solve the labour problem, especially among large fishery and related firms.
These large operators would also ensure that small operators in their supply chain follow good practices in the use of labour, he added
If any firms are found to have used illegal or forced labour, they will be removed from the supply chain.
Poj reassured international buyers that seafood suppliers in Thailand are now better managed and no longer use illegal or forced labour, as they are subject to high labour-practice standards and buyers’ inspections two or three times a year.
A source from a shrimp plant in Samut Sakhon said that the plants now afford equal treatment to Thai and foreign workers, paying an average daily wage of Bt300 and providing welfare services. Thiraphong Chansiri, CEO of Thai Union Group, responded to the AP report on alleged ongoing use of forced and child labour in the Thai shrimp industry by insisting that Thai Union would not tolerate illegal or unethical labour practices.
AP earlier reported that one of the accused plants supplied a unit of Thai Union, which exports seafood products to the US, prompting Greenpeace to call on the company and the industry to take more action to tackle the labour issue.
In a statement, Thiraphong reiterated that his company was serious about keeping its supply chain clean.
“We are committed to take the necessary actions to ensure products in our supply chain are brought to market in a way that is consistent with our values to operate with integrity and with the utmost respect for human rights – nothing less will be tolerated.”
