Finnwatch Reveals Labour Abuses Among Thai Suppliers To Europe

[bigbamboo]

Great, who can I sue?

My fifteenth birthday was in January and I started as an indentured apprentice on the 15th April.

Where? In the UK.

When? OK, 55 years ago.

When we hit 13, we also had work like paper rounds, milk delivery etc.

It didn't seem to do us much harm. The minimum legal working age in the UK for part time work is still 13!

Some of us even attended evening school and got qualifications like ONC, HNC, City & Guilds and more.

We were brought up with the notion that "You have to be cruel to be kind".

This meant that were were disciplined, we had to learn some hard lessons like that there are barriers that we may not cross. That nothing comes too easy, you have to work for it. Parents actually said NO from time to time rather than handing over some computer type thing to amuse the child.

We did not take guns and murder students from other colleges etc.

Luxury.

When I was 15 I was working down pit eighteen hours a day for sixpence a week.

Those Thatcher years were tough.

[Buchholz]

Forced labour in Thai factory

Up to 700 Burmese migrant workers in a pineapple factory in Thailand’s southern Prachuap Khiri Khan Province are victims of forced labour, according to a recently released report by Helsinki-based corporate watchdog Finnwatch.

“It's a completely unlawful and abusive situation where they are afraid to leave because their documents have been confiscated by the factory owners,” said Andy Hall, a researcher for the Mahidol Migration Centre in Bangkok. The workers, including as many as 50 children under the age of 18 and a pregnant woman, are forced to process pineapples for up to 80 hours weekly, in contravention of Thai law.

“The provincial labour welfare office will inspect the factory,” Phongthem Petchsom, a senior labour officer with the Thai Ministry of Labour Protection and Welfare, told IRIN.

Continued:

http://www.irinnews.org/Report/97302/In-Brief-Forced-labour-in-Thai-factory

IRIN - Jan. 22, 2013

.

[Buchholz]

The latest article reflects FinnWatch uncovered more laborer abuse than just the child labor issue reported in the OP.

.

[bumpkin]

Just last week, Thailand's Foreign Ministry sheep-herded foreign diplomats and press members around to a couple of shrimp-processing facilities in Samut Songkhram province. There had been reports in the internaitonal media that these places allegedly used illegal and underaged labour, and the ministry was of course (once again) deeply concerned about Thailand's image abroad. That trip was announced well over a week ahead, and needless to say that we didn't find any illegal or underaged workers at those facilities durng our visit. In fact, it seemed that the workers who had lined up as welcoming committees had been carefully chosen to look particularly old. One of the foreign diplomats told me off the record: "What else did you expect, that they openly parade before us their child workers?" I only could nod in agreement. Yet the Foreign Minister gleefully announced that the entire diplomatic delegation was very satisfied to see first-hand that the media allegations had been absolutely groundless. He also reiterated his government's commitment to stamp out child labour and human trafficking.

Just a few days later we were all delighted to learn, of course, that government officials allegedly are/were involved in "selling" rounded-up Rohingya refugees to human trafficking gangs. Even the army chief even that some high-ranking officers attached to the Isoc (Internal Security Operations Command) may have been involved in the scheme.

And now we are privileged to hear from yet another foreign organisation about alleged labour abuses in Thailand's pineapple industry, an accusation that without doubt constitutes nothing else but yet another vile - entirely groundless - attempt by foreigners to discredit Thailand in order to serve some ulterior, malevolent motives.

Can we expect a FM-organised trip to the Natural Fruit Company in Prachuabkhirikhan soon? Oh, and please inform the company in question at least one week in advance, will ya?

The only way is for the foreign buyers to employ independent audit firms who carry out spot checks.

Thai companies all got iso coz they had to. Now they will have to get something else .

There are independant Inspection Companies operating in most countries, including Thailand. These foreign supermarkets are looking for cheap product, no questions asked ! If they wanted to be sure of a guaranteed quality product and sound manufacture, that would cost them. That would be 1 expense too far.

[Baerboxer]

Just last week, Thailand's Foreign Ministry sheep-herded foreign diplomats and press members around to a couple of shrimp-processing facilities in Samut Songkhram province. There had been reports in the internaitonal media that these places allegedly used illegal and underaged labour, and the ministry was of course (once again) deeply concerned about Thailand's image abroad. That trip was announced well over a week ahead, and needless to say that we didn't find any illegal or underaged workers at those facilities durng our visit. In fact, it seemed that the workers who had lined up as welcoming committees had been carefully chosen to look particularly old. One of the foreign diplomats told me off the record: "What else did you expect, that they openly parade before us their child workers?" I only could nod in agreement. Yet the Foreign Minister gleefully announced that the entire diplomatic delegation was very satisfied to see first-hand that the media allegations had been absolutely groundless. He also reiterated his government's commitment to stamp out child labour and human trafficking.

Just a few days later we were all delighted to learn, of course, that government officials allegedly are/were involved in "selling" rounded-up Rohingya refugees to human trafficking gangs. Even the army chief even that some high-ranking officers attached to the Isoc (Internal Security Operations Command) may have been involved in the scheme.

And now we are privileged to hear from yet another foreign organisation about alleged labour abuses in Thailand's pineapple industry, an accusation that without doubt constitutes nothing else but yet another vile - entirely groundless - attempt by foreigners to discredit Thailand in order to serve some ulterior, malevolent motives.

Can we expect a FM-organised trip to the Natural Fruit Company in Prachuabkhirikhan soon? Oh, and please inform the company in question at least one week in advance, will ya?

The only way is for the foreign buyers to employ independent audit firms who carry out spot checks.

Thai companies all got iso coz they had to. Now they will have to get something else .

There are independant Inspection Companies operating in most countries, including Thailand. These foreign supermarkets are looking for cheap product, no questions asked ! If they wanted to be sure of a guaranteed quality product and sound manufacture, that would cost them. That would be 1 expense too far.

Idependent Audit firms Like the ones that operate throughout Asia giving out all sorts of reports and certificates. Sure, SGS, BSI,TuW, Veritas if the goods are sensitive or exacting standards or testing required. But, audits for the "softer elements"?

Many Western organizations now require checks to be made on their suppliers, throughout the supply chain, as part of their CSR programmes. "Sourcing with dignity, ethical sourcing" are two terms used regularly. Yet, many companies have been caught out - check Marks & Spenser and some of the UK supermarkets records. Bonded (slave) labour is a problem throughout the Indian sub-continent. Abuse of migrant workers from impoversished regions happens throughout the world. Thailand is not the biggest or only offender.

The inept UN continues to flounder in attempts at reducing this and sadly many people only care about the cost of the end product.

[crazygreg44]

me thinks, when it comes to allegations of abuse by work in Thailand, we have seen and heard nothing yet . . . . so many abusing throat cutters out there, it is unspeakably disastrous . . .