Thai Union’s agreement with Greenpeace to improve labour and environmental standards is an encouraging step, the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) has declared.
The ITF said the seafood products producer’s agreement with Greenpeace to ensure that suppliers who partake in illegal fishing and violate workers’ rights will no longer be part of their supply chain demonstrates that environmentalists and corporations can commit to working together to protect oceans and workers.
Johnny Hansen, chair of the ITF fisheries section, said: “Developing a strong code of conduct for all vessels in their supply chain, along with enforceable labour standards, is a central component of this agreement. The ITF commits to working alongside Thai Union, and Greenpeace, to ensure that the highest standards of workers’ rights are respected in the seafood supply chain.”
ITF said that through the agreement Thai Union has publicly re-affirmed its commitment to supporting freedom of association and collective bargaining throughout its own facilities and global supply chains, for all workers, including migrants.
However, Mr Hansen said that that while this is an important first step, Thai Union’s commitment to improving conditions for its workers and minimising disruption in its seafood supply chains will be heavily monitored by the ITF, Greenpeace and other activists, NGOs and unions around the globe to ensure real changes occur with the implementation of the agreement.
“The ITF is committed to monitoring the implementation of this agreement to ensure that it delivers real change for fishers, and will to continue to campaign against other seafood companies who do not enforce high labour standards throughout their supply chain,” he warned.
