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Child labour in a factory. (Photo: Asia Monitor Resource Centre - AMRC)
Two tuna factories accused of child labour and other human rights abuses
(THAILAND, 1/25/2013)
Two tuna factories that supply the US and European Union (EU) markets are involved in child labour, human trafficking and other crimes violating migrant workers’ rights, Finnish nonprofit organisation Finnwatch informed this week.
The companies in question, Unicord and Thai Union Manufacturing (TUM) (a subsidiary of Thailand’s largest fish firm, Thai Union Frozen Products PCL), make tuna items for the US, European and Australian markets. Finnwatch found that most of the companies’ employees are unregistered Burmese migrant workers as young as 14.
According to Finnwatch, the migrant workers must often pay very high recruitment fees upon starting their work and they have their original work permits confiscated. Their wages are low, and they are hired as day labourers without a regular monthly income.
Further, some workers did not have any type of written contract, and two workers who were interviewed by Finnwatch said they had signed a contract in a foreign language they did not understand.
Despite working with dangerous machinery in both factories and severe injuries, the companies offer neither compensation for accidents nor sick leave, and the hospital chosen by the employer did not provide adequate treatment.
Another issue is child labour: many interviewees spoke of several migrant workers aged 14, and Thai law prohibits employing persons under 15 years of age.
Half of the migrant workers have also been facing harassment and discrimination from managers, including physical violence.
After acquiring these findings via interviews in November 2012, Finnwatch met with TUM’s management, who did not allow the nonprofit to visit the factory or record what was said.
What’s more, the factories in question also produce food items for other international brands. Thai Union, for example, produces tuna for well-know international brands including John West, Petit Navire, Hyacinthe Parmentier, Mareblu and Chicken of the Sea.
The report is part of Finnwatch's Decent Work programme and is available here.
By Natalia Real
editorial@seafood.media
www.seafood.media
Information of the company:
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Address:
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979/13-16 M Floor,S.M.Tower, Phaholyothin Road, Samsennai
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City:
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Bangkok
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State/ZIP:
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(10400)
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Country:
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Thailand
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Phone:
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+66 2298 0025
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Fax:
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+66 2298 0027
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E-Mail:
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info@thaiuniongroup.com
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