European retailers put pressure on Thai prawn suppliers

[Lite Beer]

European retailers put pressure on Thai prawn suppliers

LONDON, June 13, 2014 (AFP) - Leading European supermarket chains are putting pressure on a Thai prawn supplier accused by a British newspaper of using slave labour.

French-based Carrefour said Thursday it was suspending purchases from Charoen Pokphand (CP) Foods, after The Guardian accused the company of using slave labour and of inhumane working conditions.

The chain said it strongly condemned the reported conditions.

"As a precautionary measure, Carrefour has decided to immediately suspend its direct and indirect purchases from this company until more is known," it said in a statement.

Carrefour said it had carried out checks on the factory in 2013 which had not revealed anything out of the ordinary.

British-based Tesco, the world's third biggest supermarket group, said it would continue to buy from CP Foods, but would work with the company to improve working conditions.

"We regard slavery as completely unacceptable. We are working with CP Foods to ensure the supply chain is slavery-free, and are also working in partnership with the International Labour

Organisation and Ethical Trading Initiative to achieve broader change across the Thai fishing industry," Tesco said in a statement.

A Tesco spokesman said CP Foods was not its only Thai supplier.

The Guardian alleged that CP buys fishmeal, which it feeds to its farmed prawns, from some suppliers that own, operate or buy from fishing boats manned by slaves.

CP Foods also supplies the giant US chains Walmart and Costco.

The company believes that the chains should use their power to lobby the Thai government rather than turn their backs on the Thai fishing industry.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2014-06-13

[Thai at Heart]

Boom.

Now that should make them sit up and pay attention.

[Johpa]

well it just wuddent be PC to come out and say it was because of the coup. note too that a good percentage of the prawn farms are in the south.

rice slaves anyone?

howbout gemslaves?

touristslaves?

have i missed any?

Perhaps you missed the point that it was not the pawn farms using slave labor but the fishing fleets that provided the fish meal, the food for the prawns. The Thai fishing industry has long been a blight upon the Kingdom that has received far too little notice. The conditions for Thai's working on the boats was horrible enough with many young men shanghaied onto the boats. But today the conditions for the Burmese now working the boats are even worse, far worse.

[Prbkk]

CP. Enough said.

[englishoak]

Tesco will regret that, its missed a chance to gain some brownie points in the UK from consumers and its already losing market to other competitors. I suspect its a lot to do with its Tesco/Lotus operation link.

Need a few more of the big buyers to do the same as carrefour to force things to happen. I applaud the company for taking this step and will do so with my pocket when choosing between Tesco or carrefour.

[Sandman77]

My better have says cp is owned by 7

So we also have to stop buyer there

Go to tesco and support the Brits!!

Here in the country we have only tesco and no 7!

A very bad day, since I read the old Thai gov also not signature the un

Agreement against human slavery!

Most other country's agree withit..

[Thai at Heart]

CP. Enough said.

Indeed. They are about to discover the power of the Social Responsibility Program

[Now or Never]

While in no way condoning the slavery in the Thai fishing industry, this is not a new story and something should have been done about it by the PTP government.

The Guardian Newspaper is very pro PTP and have swallowed their "Democracy " rant hook line and sinker.

The Guardian has been at the forefront of the foreign presses criticism of the coup.

Now they have decided to revive this issue as a stick to beat Thailand and the military coup.

[innocent peach]

JUST SO THERE IS AT LEAST ONE REAL FACT IN THIS THREAD.

it is tesco lotus, the lotus part is CP

[noitom]

Walmart and Costco will follow shortly. They are very conscious of human trafficking in their network and channels and they are very reputable.

[englishoak]

While in no way condoning the slavery in the Thai fishing industry, this is not a new story and something should have been done about it by the PTP government.

The Guardian Newspaper is very pro PTP and have swallowed their "Democracy " rant hook line and sinker.

The Guardian has been at the forefront of the foreign presses criticism of the coup.

Now they have decided to revive this issue as a stick to beat Thailand and the military coup.

Do you have to try and twist everything to be political ? its not its about human suffering and a UN vote on the table to do something about it.

Its not just a Thailand problem but international, hence the UN making it clear and voting on an update to help curb things.... It should also be noted that Thailand was the ONLY country to vote against. thats the 12 June 2014.... nothing to do with PTP at all and they have by actually voting against made it clear they do in fact see nothing wrong with slavery and forced labour...

The UN didnt pick the date conveniently to play politics its been on the agenda for a while like all voting items have to be.

Sorry but your way out, The Guardian would have known exactly when this vote was coming up and of course ran the story for maximum exposure at the prime time.... The BBC also ran a story highlighting Taiwan in the fishing trade and previously a lot has been highlighted about middle eastern countries using slave labour in construction and their mistreatment.

This is not only about Thailand I suggest you widen your reading and interests to include more than just LOS.

[worgeordie]

JUST SO THERE IS AT LEAST ONE REAL FACT IN THIS THREAD.

it is tesco lotus, the lotus part is CP

Used to be ,but Tesco bought the lot in the crash of 97.

regards worgeordie

[Thai at Heart]

JUST SO THERE IS AT LEAST ONE REAL FACT IN THIS THREAD.

it is tesco lotus, the lotus part is CP

Not to say it is a nominee company, but CP doesn't own any of Tesco Lotus anymore.

It is basically Tesco with some fancy shareholdings. CP is 7-11 and Maker. CP sells a ton of different foods to Tesco in the Uk and the other European companies.

[Thai at Heart]

Walmart and Costco will follow shortly. They are very conscious of human trafficking in their network and channels and they are very reputable.

CP supplies a ton of chicken ready meals into Europe also. This supply chain is easier to control though.

[asanee]

Perhaps you missed the point that it was not the pawn farms using slave labor but the fishing fleets that provided the fish meal, the food for the prawns.

Just a little note: most of the export-shrimps are grown/cultivated in ''farms''. Just like nowadays 70-80% of salmon comes from ditto farms in the Norwegian fjords. Remember when there are floodings near the seaside, they often get flooded and the shrimps swim out in freedom.
Tipically yes, these farms are fed by left overs of the catch on the sea.

[muchogra]

Holy macro...the French beat the Brits in self-righteousness in this round! No wonder Carrfour was closed in Thailand and HK, and possibly other places. Suck egg!

[Thai at Heart]

Holy macro...the French beat the Brits in self-righteousness in this round! No wonder Carrfour was closed in Thailand and HK, and possibly other places. Suck egg!

Tesco doesn't do self righteousness

[muchogra]

Holy macro...the French beat the Brits in self-righteousness in this round! No wonder Carrfour was closed in Thailand and HK, and possibly other places. Suck egg!

Tesco doesn't do self righteousness

Tesco is doing what it should be done, unlike the self-righteous Carrfour. Won't you say? Or, are you going to attack Tesco?

[Eddy B]

Are the shrimps/prawns slaughtered halal style??

[rhythmworx]

They happily still sell coffee and sugar though, possibly the 2 items that are mostly produced by slave labour worldwide.

Have they hired Stacy Dooley as the new imported goods inspector or something.

[thumper101]

The owner of CP was called to Downing Street today by Cameron.

He has told him that the British people will decide whether or not to boycott Thai products in supermarkets. He won't stand against the decisions of the British people.... That shows how serious this is now.

Thailand has copped a massive black mark, and CP are getting the blame for it.

This is a disaster of epic proportions in the making. Because I can see the first supermarket in the UK to announce a boycott of all Thai products, they will cash in big style and this could see Tesco taking a serious beating that it announced it will continue to trade with Thailand and CP.

Yes... the supermarket wars in the UK are like this...

Then the rest of Europe may well follow, and then the US... It is a potential domino topple.

Then after that... what next??? Travel agents boycotting Thailand as a tourist destination?

To be honest... Thailand could have done something about this years ago and it didn't care and now they will get their just desserts.

The west absolutely abhors slavery and they certainly DO vote with their feet.

PTP promised to end all this and never delivered one bit.... symptomatic of the Thai attitude that Thais are superior and everyone else is inferior.... you know?..... good for nothing other than cheap slave labour and treating like animals.

[rhythmworx]

The Thai products in supermarkets are crap anyway, and way overpriced.

The Chinese outlets will keep selling what they want, and most of the prawns in them will be from Vietnam anyway.

Edited June 13, 2014 by rhythmworx

[ratcatcher]

My better have says cp is owned by 7

So we also have to stop buyer there

Go to tesco and support the Brits!!

Here in the country we have only tesco and no 7!

A very bad day, since I read the old Thai gov also not signature the un

Agreement against human slavery!

Most other country's agree withit..

You'd better have a few words with your "better have" as she's feeding you misinformation..

Charoen Pokhpand Group is one of the largest conglomerates in Asia, however they are the Thai licencees for 7-11 with nearly 6500 stores.

CP also owns the TRUE operations.

[simple1]

Has there been any shareholder action groups lobbying the Boards of the UK/US/European//Oz supermarket chains to cease buying Thai seafood products?

[thinknirmal]

Here is the full reply by Tesco:

Thank you for your email.

The accounts of slavery in the production of fishmeal in Thailand in yesterday’s Guardian were deeply shocking. We regard slavery as completely unacceptable and are determined to use our influence to ensure it is stamped out.

We have already made significant progress in improving conditions in farms, peeling sheds and processing facilities in Thailand –which in the past have been vulnerable to both child and forced labour. We now need to ensure the same progress is extended to the largely unregulated fishing industry that provides fish bought for use in fishmeal for prawns. We are working both with our suppliers to ensure the fishmeal supply chain is fully traceable and slavery-free, and have been working for some time in partnership with the International Labour Organisation and Ethical Trading Initiative to achieve broader change across the Thai fishing industry. We will back up this work with unannounced checks at each stage of the supply chain, to ensure conditions are decent – and we will not cease until we have ensured that is the case.

Philip Clarke

Chief Executive Officer

Tesco Stores Limited

Company Number: 519500

Registered in England

Registered Office: Tesco House, Delamare Road, Cheshunt, Hertfordshire EN8 9SL

VAT Registration Number: GB 220 4302 31

[Jay Sata]

In other words we will carry on selling the stuff.

It is not just Thai prawns that should be avoided. One prominent Thai pineapple company is involved in litigation to silence European activists who have exposed slave labour in their factories.

The widespread use of semi slave labour in Thailand is well known with Laos, Burma and Cambodia nationals be shipped in to support big Thai companies exploiting their labour.

The answer is to expose the large importers who will have to shun the goods coming from these slave factories.

[wandasloan]

While in no way condoning the slavery in the Thai fishing industry, this is not a new story and something should have been done about it by the PTP government.

The Guardian Newspaper is very pro PTP and have swallowed their "Democracy " rant hook line and sinker.

The Guardian has been at the forefront of the foreign presses criticism of the coup.

Now they have decided to revive this issue as a stick to beat Thailand and the military coup.

While not condoning your post or slavery, this is not a new story and something should have been done about it by the Democrat government, the coalition government, the Thai Rak Thai government, the coup fascist government, the PPP government, the Democrat government, the Pheu Thai government and the Coup '14 government rulers.

Good for The Guardian to take the forefront. Not to condone slavery, but The Guardian and 5,000 other media worldwide and in Thailand should have done something about it many years ago and should be ashamed they didn't.

I'm not sure who else BUT Thailand and the current government junta regime should receive the beating today, though. Any suggestions welcome. Thaksin? George W Bush? They're not the ones putting tens of thousands of entirely harmless people in trucks, beating them, allegedly killing them and dumping them at the border while refusing to track, catch and prosecute very high-ranking military officers involved in human trafficking. Thailand and its current authorities are doing that. Other governments and military officers WERE doing that, but aren't any more.

.

[UbonRatch]

While in no way condoning the slavery in the Thai fishing industry, this is not a new story and something should have been done about it by the PTP government.

The Guardian Newspaper is very pro PTP and have swallowed their "Democracy " rant hook line and sinker.

The Guardian has been at the forefront of the foreign presses criticism of the coup.

Now they have decided to revive this issue as a stick to beat Thailand and the military coup.

While not condoning your post or slavery, this is not a new story and something should have been done about it by the Democrat government, the coalition government, the Thai Rak Thai government, the coup fascist government, the PPP government, the Democrat government, the Pheu Thai government and the Coup '14 government rulers.

Good for The Guardian to take the forefront. Not to condone slavery, but The Guardian and 5,000 other media worldwide and in Thailand should have done something about it many years ago and should be ashamed they didn't.

I'm not sure who else BUT Thailand and the current government junta regime should receive the beating today, though. Any suggestions welcome. Thaksin? George W Bush? They're not the ones putting tens of thousands of entirely harmless people in trucks, beating them, allegedly killing them and dumping them at the border while refusing to track, catch and prosecute very high-ranking military officers involved in human trafficking. Thailand and its current authorities are doing that. Other governments and military officers WERE doing that, but aren't any more.

.

Why on earth is this a media responsibility to act upon?

The media has been annually been reporting this story in detail for many years. Why should they be ashamed? It is their job to simply investiagte and report, and that they have done. You even wrote yourself "this is not a new story", and thus you are aware of media exposure yourself!

Don't shoot the messenger.

[selftaopath]

Walmart and Costco will follow shortly. They are very conscious of human trafficking in their network and channels and they are very reputable.

I love Walmart and wish they were here, but they pay their works poorly. A full time worker is in the "poverty" level in US.

[chooka]

My better have says cp is owned by 7

So we also have to stop buyer there

Go to tesco and support the Brits!!

Here in the country we have only tesco and no 7!

A very bad day, since I read the old Thai gov also not signature the un

Agreement against human slavery!

Most other country's agree withit..

Actually C.P owns the Thai Licence of 7 Eleven

Tesco - Lotus owned by The Charoen Pokphand Group ( AKA CP)

You would be hard pressed to shop anywhere or purchase anything in Thailand that isn't connected to the Charoen Pokphand Group