Finnwatch Researcher Slams Thai Juice Firm's Legal Action

[webfact]

Finnwatch researcher slams Thai juice firm's legal action
BY ANDERS HOLM NIELSEN



BANGKOK: -- Finnish retailers have much to improve if they are to have ethical supply chains in developing countries. That’s according to a British researcher who is facing legal action in Thailand over his revelations.

Andy Hall collected disturbing information for the much-publicized Finnwatch report that came out earlier this year. The non-governmental watchdog claimed that products of Finnish in-house brands such as Rainbow and Pirkka have been manufactured on the back of forced labour and children.

Hall has since been taken to court in Thailand by local juice company Nature Fruit. The Finnwatch report claimed that pineapple concentrate plants violated Thai law and their workers’ human rights.

“They try to attempt to silence me and ware me down to make me tired, to let me waste my time trying to defend some malicious and undefined claim,” said Hall during a visit to Helsinki. “We’re gonna win the case, it’s no problem, but it’s just the waste of my time.”

Amid fierce competition for western bucks, factories in developing countries cut corners with working conditions, safety as well as employees salaries. Andy Hall’s message to Finnish food chains is loud and clear.

“They have to make changes systematically to the way which they supply from Asia and countries which are exploiting workers,” suggested Hall.

After the controversy with juice products, Finnish food retailers Kesko and SOK have said they will keep a closer eye on their supply chains.

However, it’s not easy to improve existing practices, even under the scrutiny of international watchdogs. Though a franchising group may buy from a manufacturer whose practices are transparent, their sub-contractors’ work conditions may in fact be appalling.

The best way to secure work conditions in developing countries, according to Hall, is to help improve workers’ rights.

“The key is to organise the workers themselves,” noted Hall. “They don’t have any voice, they don’t have any awareness about their rights, their obligations. They don’t know how to form trade unions to collectively organise. … But the outside pressure can really assist because in Asia the culture and environment is not conducive to workers organising and defending their rights.”

Source: yle.fi

Source: http://scandasia.com/finnwatch-researcher-slams-thai-juice-firms-legal-action/

-- ScandAsia 2013-05-28

[Ianatlarge]

The only way that these legal and human rights violations will cease is if the Thai union movement is revitalised and becomes a participant in the economic life of the Kingdom.

[soi41]

To be quite honest, how many consumers care about, who produced their fruitjuice, as long as the price is right??

[CrisRMenumate]

They don’t know how to form trade unions to collectively organise. … - because the Grasshoppers don't want the ants to know that they actually have a voice and could get organised, its better to keep them down trodden and scared even through if they did collectively organise it would bring great benefits to workers... but of course would mean that the international supply chain would just move on to the next 3rd world country where workers are not yet organised and exploit them until the cycle continues on and on.... and the organised workers might be organised but are now out of a job because Thailand is getting too expensive due to labor issues, ok lets head to Vietnam, now to Bangladesh, now to Laos, next to Myanmar.... People want cheap goods and its too expensive to produce them in the west at a reasonable price so they have to find low cost ways, low cost means something has to give.... consumers want low price for good quality, retailers want low cost with good margin that consumers are willing to pay, developing country want the exchange $$$, labourers just want to exist... but even that is taken from them by the operations of some of these sweat shops, as shown in the recent case in Bangladesh as well as many others where workers were denied the right to protect themselves in times of emergency through locked doors in fires, or shoddy buildings for factories to keep rents down or whatever, the perfect recipe doesn't exist to keep all sides happy in this mess. It didn't in Socialist/Communist regimes and it certainly doesn't in Capitalist style markets. Good luck Andy Hall.... whoops there goes another rubber tree...

[Thai at Heart]

Very simple to solve.

Any supplier to this company's supply chain must submit to 6 monthly audits by Finnwatch/Bureau Veritas or some other independent organisation nominated by the buyer.

[lee b]

its the same for everything made

[JetsetBkk]

They dont know how to form trade unions to collectively organise. - because the Grasshoppers don't want the ants to know that they actually have a voice and could get organised, its better to keep them down trodden and scared even through if they did collectively organise it would bring great benefits to workers... but of course would mean that the international supply chain would just move on to the next 3rd world country where workers are not yet organised and exploit them until the cycle continues on and on.... and the organised workers might be organised but are now out of a job because Thailand is getting too expensive due to labor issues, ok lets head to Vietnam, now to Bangladesh, now to Laos, next to Myanmar.... People want cheap goods and its too expensive to produce them in the west at a reasonable price so they have to find low cost ways, low cost means something has to give.... consumers want low price for good quality, retailers want low cost with good margin that consumers are willing to pay, developing country want the exchange $$$, labourers just want to exist... but even that is taken from them by the operations of some of these sweat shops, as shown in the recent case in Bangladesh as well as many others where workers were denied the right to protect themselves in times of emergency through locked doors in fires, or shoddy buildings for factories to keep rents down or whatever, the perfect recipe doesn't exist to keep all sides happy in this mess. It didn't in Socialist/Communist regimes and it certainly doesn't in Capitalist style markets. Good luck Andy Hall.... whoops there goes another rubber tree...

I'm sure what you wrote is worth reading, but try paragraphs and sentences.

[chainarong]

You are between the devil and the deep blue sea, this practice is as old as me , Bangladesh, Pakistan, China , India, to name a few, we all know that these companies that deal in these regions are only interested in , cheap labour , no safety, sub-standard conditions, no unions, slave labour is rife, with kids doing work of adults 15 hrs a day , now the companies can take the high moral ground and not deal with the local operators or use them, Easy, the slaves will at least have some pay to survive and buy food, Thailand is a little more advanced, however this report dose not surprise, as we all know Thailand , take it or leave it, welcome to the third world.

[allan michaud]

No one cares

[BrianCR]

Do you think that happens in the beer industry too?.... Oop's give me another Singha.... make that two!

[edwardandtubs]

Thai workers seem perfectly content to live in a state of servitude. What do you expect from a culture that emphasises obedience to your superiors, accepting the status quo and contentment with your own life? They're perfectly happy working their little socks off while the corrupt elite plunder the country's resources. They're very proud of it in fact and wouldn't take kindly to an interfering "falang" telling them the way it should be.

[khunken]

Forced labour sounds like immigrants to me. Thais sometimes get treated badly by companies or individuals that they work for but the likes of Myanmars are too often treated like slaves.

Whatever, I hope Mr Hall can continue his good work and get the products of this company banned until they respond fairly.

[Baerboxer]

Very simple to solve.

Any supplier to this company's supply chain must submit to 6 monthly audits by Finnwatch/Bureau Veritas or some other independent organisation nominated by the buyer.

You reckon? And how much do you think it would cost to get the "right" report?

The only way is for companies to employ professional procurement techniques to source and evaluate suppliers, negotiate appropriate contracts, and enforce perfomance. This incurrs expense which the buying organizations don't want. Professionals, travel, monitorting costs money. Easier to write bullshit in their annual reports CSR section and hope there's no problems. Horse meat, collapsing factories, suicides at electronic companies, bonded labour, child labour, and still the West carries on the same, ignoring the risks and exploitation.

[wilgoster]

Keep it up, Andy; the world (many of you... and me) needs more like you not less. And it does make a difference, regardless of "hard realities" posted above.

[Bagwan]

The formation of effective trades union in Thailand would only add another layer of oppression to the downtrodden. Think Scargill, living in a house set in walled grounds close by Barnsley and valued 30 years ago at one million pounds while many of his members lived in back to back houses with a privy out the back. In his wife's name of course. Unknown to many NUM executives his union was for years paying 34k pounds per annum for a flat in the Barbican in London but he lost a court case in which he claimed that that benefit should be his for life and that of his wife. Think of all the good 'Red Robbo' and Derek Hatton didn't do.

Read about the disgraceful life styles of the leaders of Teamsters, particularly Jimmy Hoffa, and wonder how they improved the lives of their members and what they did with their members subscriptions.

Does anybody think other than that Thai union leaders would be in bed with the phu yais and riding around in flash cars not giving a stuff for the lower orders?

[Joe Mamma]

The western world has thrived by exploiting the 3rd world nations for centuries. Mexico is the only 3rd world country to fight back by infiltrating the USA with its populace and exploiting the welfare system to produce more Mexicans on US soil. I remember a toy manufacturer that locked it's doors to keep pilfering down in Bangkok, and dozens of workers were killed in a fire, all were locked in.

[Thai at Heart]

Very simple to solve.

Any supplier to this company's supply chain must submit to 6 monthly audits by Finnwatch/Bureau Veritas or some other independent organisation nominated by the buyer.

You reckon? And how much do you think it would cost to get the "right" report?

The only way is for companies to employ professional procurement techniques to source and evaluate suppliers, negotiate appropriate contracts, and enforce perfomance. This incurrs expense which the buying organizations don't want. Professionals, travel, monitorting costs money. Easier to write bullshit in their annual reports CSR section and hope there's no problems. Horse meat, collapsing factories, suicides at electronic companies, bonded labour, child labour, and still the West carries on the same, ignoring the risks and exploitation.

Well, I've been through it supplying large MNC in the agriculture business. All were jv's but we were in labour compliance anyway. Even had to prove attendance of children of farmers during school time.

In this situation how can the companies continue to buy from these suppliers? They should be able to produce wage slips and time sheets that are in accordance with the law.

If I was one of their buyers I would have been on the plane the next day, translator on tow to do my own investigation.

Edited May 28, 2013 by Thai at Heart

[hellodolly]

"have been manufactured on the back of forced labour and children."

Not that I approve of it but what is going to happen to these children.

For a lot of them it is eat or starve.

It is easy to say stop the child labor but what are you going to do with the children?

[HerbalEd]

To be quite honest, how many consumers care about, who produced their fruitjuice, as long as the price is right??

I give up. How many?

[sprq]

They dont know how to form trade unions to collectively organise. - because the Grasshoppers don't want the ants to know that they actually have a voice and could get organised, its better to keep them down trodden and scared even through if they did collectively organise it would bring great benefits to workers... but of course would mean that the international supply chain would just move on to the next 3rd world country where workers are not yet organised and exploit them until the cycle continues on and on.... and the organised workers might be organised but are now out of a job because Thailand is getting too expensive due to labor issues, ok lets head to Vietnam, now to Bangladesh, now to Laos, next to Myanmar.... People want cheap goods and its too expensive to produce them in the west at a reasonable price so they have to find low cost ways, low cost means something has to give.... consumers want low price for good quality, retailers want low cost with good margin that consumers are willing to pay, developing country want the exchange $$$, labourers just want to exist... but even that is taken from them by the operations of some of these sweat shops, as shown in the recent case in Bangladesh as well as many others where workers were denied the right to protect themselves in times of emergency through locked doors in fires, or shoddy buildings for factories to keep rents down or whatever, the perfect recipe doesn't exist to keep all sides happy in this mess. It didn't in Socialist/Communist regimes and it certainly doesn't in Capitalist style markets. Good luck Andy Hall.... whoops there goes another rubber tree...

I'm sure what you wrote is worth reading, but try paragraphs and sentences.

Try reading it instead of moaning about the way it looks -- it's a lot more cogent and better written than most Thaivisa posts, and right too.

[canuckamuck]

This article has no specific information, no details of what they considered infractions, yet all jump on board and bang a drum about it. I for one would love to see what it is they describe as forced labor. As far as children being employed, this is a Asia, they don't believe kids shouldn't work. That is a western notion and one that is questionable. I worked on my family farm every day, it made me a better person. Kids need special protection and rules when it comes to work, but they also benefit greatly from learning how to be responsible and get something done.

If there were some facts to be discussed that would help me form an opinion of the apparently evil juice trade.

[Thait Spot]

"have been manufactured on the back of forced labour and children."

Not that I approve of it but what is going to happen to these children.

For a lot of them it is eat or starve.

It is easy to say stop the child labor but what are you going to do with the children?

Whilst I don't really approve of children working, when you look at a family business that's in, say, the farming industry and the time comes to pick fruit or whatever, the kids probably want to be out in the field with the family. Are they paid? Probably not much if anything. Is it child "labour"? Good question.

Provided kids have their school time, eat and drink the right things, sleep enough, are healthy and happy then I'm all for helping the family a few hours.

If they are working full time at factories then that's another matter altogether.

[Dork]

The best thing to come out of this story so far is that it demonstrates that abusing the legal system by making frivolous libel claims, a popular bullying tactic in Thailand, doesn't work if the target is not in Thailand. In fact it can have the exact opposite effect.

Finnwatch is just another self serving NGO and the Thai party is just an obscure fruit canner in Prachuabkirikan. If the Thai company had just shut up, nothing much would have happened and in a few months life for them would have carried on. Instead, because of their libel suit this has turned into a major international news story and in the eyes of the world the hero is the NGO and the villain is the Thai company that is no doubt exporting a lot less pineapple than it used to.

[Unkomoncents]

These kinds of practices will never go away in Thailand. Thailand's rigid class system, poverty, and often a simple lack of education prevent parents from parenting and encourage families to exploit their own. Rather than economically punishing suppliers, organizations interested in the plight of these children would do well to go into the communities and try to re-educate the locals about the economic value the children provide on the family farm raising teak trees (or the like). Fact is though, nothing here will change anyways. These are traditional cultures with practices rooted in millenia. For many of the unfortunates that fall victim to human trafficking, child labor, etc. in Southeast Asia, the lure of easy money (for the family) is simply too much to bear.

[Katipo]

To be quite honest, how many consumers care about, who produced their fruitjuice, as long as the price is right?? I

If I was aware, I would. I commend this fellow for what he has, and is attempting to do.

[geriatrickid]

Thai workers seem perfectly content to live in a state of servitude. What do you expect from a culture that emphasises obedience to your superiors, accepting the status quo and contentment with your own life? They're perfectly happy working their little socks off while the corrupt elite plunder the country's resources. They're very proud of it in fact and wouldn't take kindly to an interfering "falang" telling them the way it should be.

Really? Ever seen a Thai mob in action? All control is gone and they lay waste to anything and everything in its path. they are not content, but are an explosion waiting to go off.