Thai Union is launching a long-term programme that aims to ensure formal training of Thai labour and social welfare regulations is given to migrant workers in the country.
There has been much negativity surrounding the Thai fishing industry over the years, due to its alleged involvement in fishing slavery, but more work is now being done to combat the issue.
Thai Union’s labour empowerment programme aims for migrant workers to be properly educated on labour and social welfare rights according to Thai law by the end of 2016 and that all these facilities fully comply with these standards.
“Our Corporate Vision is to be the world’s most trusted seafood leader, and to achieve that we have to be a pro-active leader of change in the seafood industry,” said Dr Darian McBain, group director of sustainable development, Thai Union. “Our customers and consumers worldwide demand sustainable products produced with good labour practices. We employ migrant workers in our Thai factories and treat them to the same high standards of labour rights and welfare as their Thai counterparts.”
For the programme, Thai Union has partnered with Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN).
“This is just one of our many ongoing collaborations with the government, the private sector and stakeholders as we continue in our commitment to doing business in a transparent, responsible and accountable manner. We believe this is better for our business and certainly better for the many lives that are part of that business,” added Dr McBain.
The first of many planned migrant workers’ rights workshops presented in a collaboration between Thai Union and MWRN was held on 26 September 2015 and was attended by a 60-strong group of employees at one of the Thai Union factories in Samut Sakhon province.
