Thai Union moving operations in-house by the end of the year

Thai Union moving operations in-house by the end of the year
THE NATION


In a file photo dated September 21, 2015, Thiraphong Chansiri, president and CEO of Thai Union Group (right)

BANGKOK: -- LEADING GLOBAL seafood company Thai Union yesterday announced that by December 31 it will cease working with all external pre-processors and bring all its shrimp processing operations in-house.

Thai Union said it would have full oversight of all processing stages, with all processing work directly controlled by the group to ensure "all workers, whether migrant or Thai, are in safe, legal employment and are treated fairly and with dignity".

To address the move's impact on its external processors, the company said it was offering to "up to a thousand workers" employed by its external pre-processors an opportunity to work with the group.

"We took this decision following a full review of our supply chain and the release of our revised Business Ethics and Labour Code of Conduct in September 2015.

"We were concerned that, despite regular audits, it is difficult to guarantee that all external pre-processors were adhering to our code of conduct," said Thiraphong Chansiri, president and CEO of Thai |Union.

"I am pleased that we are implementing our plans to bring pre-processing of our shrimp products into Thai Union and are able to offer safe and legal employment to thousands more workers.

"This is a positive step towards our goal of ridding the Thai seafood sector of illegal labour practices. We are committed to leading improvements in the industry and we hope this reminds all operators that they must remain focused on promoting good labour practices - the abuse of human rights must not be tolerated."

The Thai seafood industry has come under severe criticism from the US and the European Union, which have threatened to introduce trade sanctions on Thailand. Green Peace has also criticised the country.

Global food company Nestle last month said it had found that its Thailand seafood suppliers were engaged in abusive labour practices.

Panisuan Jamnarnwej, honorary chairman of Thai Frozen Foods Association, said it was a very encouraging move by Thai Union and underlined the company's commitment to be part of the solution to elevate the Thai seafood industry and drive real change in management practices in the sector.

"By bringing pre-processing operations in-house, Thai Union will be able to monitor and promote the welfare of their workers directly," said the TFFA president.

All Thai pre-processing operations must be registered with the TFFA. Panisuan said that as a major supplier of seafood products to consumer markets around the world, Thai Union took its responsibility for safeguarding those employed in the fishing industry very seriously.

He said it was only by working in partnership with the supply chain and stakeholders would illegal labour practices be driven out of the fishing industry.

TU is the world's largest producer of shelf-stable tuna products with annual sales exceeding Bt120 billion and a global workforce of over 46,000 people.

Its Thai brands include Sealect, Fisho and Bellotta. Its highly recognised international brands include Chicken of the Sea, John West, Petit Navire, Parmentier, Mareblu, King Oscar and Century.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/business/Thai-Union-moving-operations-in-house-by-the-end-o-30274670.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-11