Thai Frozen Foods hits back at claims

[webfact]

FORCED LABOUR
Thai Frozen Foods hits back at claims
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Pratch Rujivanarom
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE THAI Frozen Foods Association yesterday brushed aside an Associated Press report on the use of forced and child labour in shrimp plants exporting to the US market.

Poj Aramwattananont, president of the association, said shrimp plants in Samut Sakhon no longer employed children or illegal foreign workers.

The association will next Monday hold a press conference to clarify the situation and provide an update on the measures taken by the Thai government, fisheries and related enterprises to stamp out illegal and forced labour over the past six months.

The European Union has issued a warning to Thailand, citing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices, while the US has left Thailand languishing in Tier 3, the lowest level of its annual Trafficking in Persons report. Poj said Thailand has done a lot during the past year to solve the labour problem, especially among large fishery and related firms.

These large operators would also ensure that small operators in their supply chain follow good practices in the use of labour, he added

If any firms are found to have used illegal or forced labour, they will be removed from the supply chain.

Poj reassured international buyers that seafood suppliers in Thailand are now better managed and no longer use illegal or forced labour, as they are subject to high labour-practice standards and buyers' inspections two or three times a year.

A source from a shrimp plant in Samut Sakhon said that the plants now afford equal treatment to Thai and foreign workers, paying an average daily wage of Bt300 and providing welfare services. Thiraphong Chansiri, CEO of Thai Union Group, responded to the AP report on alleged ongoing use of forced and child labour in the Thai shrimp industry by insisting that Thai Union would not tolerate illegal or unethical labour practices.

AP earlier reported that one of the accused plants supplied a unit of Thai Union, which exports seafood products to the US, prompting Greenpeace to call on the company and the industry to take more action to tackle the labour issue.

In a statement, Thiraphong reiterated that his company was serious about keeping its supply chain clean.

"We are committed to take the necessary actions to ensure products in our supply chain are brought to market in a way that is consistent with our values to operate with integrity and with the utmost respect for human rights - nothing less will be tolerated."

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Thai-Frozen-Foods-hits-back-at-claims-30275010.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-16


AP REPORT
AP report on slave-peeled shrimp spurs calls for boycott
http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/878728-ap-report-on-slave-peeled-shrimp-spurs-calls-for-boycott/

[NongKhaiKid]

When can we expect a defamation suit to be filed ?

[chrisrazz]

Too late. The truth is out. This industry has defamed the reputation of all things Thai. Seriously, I know these people think their own countrymen as gullible and stupid, but consumers with conscience will decide with their wallets and will not accept industry PR statements such as 'shrimp plants in Samut Sakhon no longer employed children or illegal foreign workers.'

[Somtamnication]

He defamed his own organization by saying " Poj Aramwattananont, president of the association, said shrimp plants in Samut Sakhon no longer employed children or illegal foreign workers".

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

"We are committed to take the necessary action to ensure products in our supply chain......."

Exposed and risking loosing all their big clients.

" Consistent with our values to operate with integrity and the outmost respect for human lives"

Wonder if he could say that with a straight face?

[webfact]

PM Prayut Chan-o-cha Vows Punishment in Shrimp Trade Slave Labor
BY JACOB MASLOW



BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha stated that arrests are underway for seafood processing facilities that have failed to halt forced labor in the country. A report from the Associated Press found that Thailand’s thriving seafood industry utilizes forced labor for tasks, such as peeling shrimp.

The Prime Minister has stated that all parties will be dealt with accordingly if they are offenders or officers that overlooked slave labor.

Kornchai Klayklueng, head of the Anti-Human Trafficking Division, has stated that his division has gathered intelligence that will result in multiple arrests coming this week.

While he did promise that arrests are occurring, Mr. Kornchai stated that he does not believe human trafficking is as high as reported by The Associated Press. He went on to state that there may be facilities that are operating under the law that utilize forced labor.

Full story: http://ethailand.com/business-news/pm-prayut-chan-o-cha-vows-punishment-in-shrimp-trade-slave-labor/758/

-- eThailand 2015-12-16

[shirtless]

Its time for a boycott , we dont believe your lies

[Prbkk]

It's not going to go away with denials, the claim that it's old news or a few token arrests:

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-15/major-australian-supermarkets-implicated-in-child-labour/7031350

[Chang_paarp]

Thailand’s Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha stated that arrests are underway for seafood processing facilities that have failed to halt forced labor in the country. A report from the Associated Press found that Thailand’s thriving seafood industry utilizes forced labor for tasks, such as peeling shrimp.

Arrests are just window dressing, how about some successful prosecutions?

Yes this takes time as the wheels of justice roll very slowly in Thailand unless it is decreed to be of national interest under section 44 of this weeks constitution. It is amazing how some cases are in court and resolved in in days or weeks and others take years to get to court and decades to resolve.

[Assurancetourix]

He defamed his own organization by saying " Poj Aramwattananont, president of the association, said shrimp plants in Samut Sakhon no longer employed children or illegal foreign workers".

No longer.....today ;

and tomorrow , ?

[zaphod reborn]

If you read the AP article, it reported that they don't know if Thai Union still sources shrimp from peeling factories which employ slave and child labor. The article says that the source of peeled shrimp is almost impossible to determine anymore because the peeling factories in Samut Sakorn are basically pop-up shells making it impossible to determine where wholesalers and distributors are sourcing the shrimp.

[Puwa]

I don't think I have ever read in remarks by government or industry a single word in favor of the workers themselves, or any concern for their welfare, or sadness for their treatment. Government talks about the image of the country, industry talks about the integrity of its "product," and both focus on the pseudo-issue of foreign news agencies' misunderstanding.

[steveyinasia]

So the process is in place....lift up face, deny everything exists....save face.

[lujanit]

In the Australian press this morning Coles admits sourcing prawns from Thai Union. Woolies won't say and ALDI sate they don't source prawns but do source canned tuna etc from Thai Union.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-12-15/major-australian-supermarkets-implicated-in-child-labour/7031350

[JoeLing]

I always wonder how much effort, time and money is used to come up with denial, clarifications, law suites, more clarifications, more defamation court cases just to safe a face that's long lost? Be it in the private industry or government agencies.

Sure, fixing the problems would be more cost effective and the image of all Thai could be restored?

[oneday]

When can we expect a defamation suit to be filed ?

They only file those suits against people who have little resources to defend themselves and often on people who live in Thailand. They don't have the guts to fight the big guys. I guess they don't want real proof brought to the courts by professional investigators.

[FangFerang]

They can brush aside all they want. Foreigners can and will be deciding against their failures and feats of malice by buying elsewhere or no where at all. Suppliers and importers won't. The public will.

And they will be dealt with accordingly. Really? I have an enormous difficulty in finding a grain of truth in that.

"If any firms are found to have used illegal or forced labour, they will be removed from the supply chain." This means they will not investigate anyone.

Everyone has known what is going on for quite some time. When the bubble popped, they first went after the reporter covering the human trafficking immense problem, and then they arrested the two slaves who dared to speak out, and fined them so much money that they will never be out of jail because they can never pay it off.

Slavery is detestable, hideous, inhumane, about as Buddhist as a killing field full of unarmed people. The government's reaction to the two slaves is patently stupid.

I am not touching shrimp until I know it has not been soaked in human tears first.

If you took every foul swear word, ground them all together, mixed it with blood and baked it into a single word, that word to me would be slave.

And I am ashamed the US has a loophole the size of a four lane tunnel that lets this into the US food supply.

Edited December 16, 2015 by FangFerang

[SABloke]

''Poj Aramwattananont, president of the association, said shrimp plants in Samut Sakhon no longer employed children or illegal foreign workers.''

So he's admitting that they used to do so. What's the statute of limitations on slavery charges?

[FangFerang]

If you read the AP article, it reported that they don't know if Thai Union still sources shrimp from peeling factories which employ slave and child labor. The article says that the source of peeled shrimp is almost impossible to determine anymore because the peeling factories in Samut Sakorn are basically pop-up shells making it impossible to determine where wholesalers and distributors are sourcing the shrimp.

I disagree. If officers followed every shrimp pickup truck for a week, they could identify every location, then follow the money and arrest the guilty.

THEY DON'T WANT TO, AND THE US DOESN'T WANT THEM TO EITHER, NOR THE EU--everyone is rolling in profits just now......another instance of capitalism gone mad . Without regulation, uncontrolled capital;ism is far more dangerous than Russian and Chinese style socialism ever was (though people are still saying communism because they have heard that lie so long it sounds truer than the truth of our own language).

The only true communists in history were some native American tribes.

[DavisH]

This needs to be sorted out asap. The majority of seafood is destined for export and these markets are very sensitive to the use of forced labour - as judging from the comments of Australians on their local websites, for example. Westerners tend to lap up as gospel anything produced by AP and others overseas presses (in the same way Thais also lap up what they are told). I'd like to see AP's proof of their claims - I don't consider people working hard for 300 baht a day "forced labour" though. Much of the abuse reported seems to be from those help captive on fishing boats. I haven't seen reports of children being forced to work in seafood factories though, at least not recently.

[DavisH]

Where are 'peeled shrimps' ending up? I've only ever eaten unpeeled shrimps, but have seen a few packets of unpeeled shrimps for sale. Are they mostly for export or used in other products? I know it's besides the point, just curious...

[Lorn]

If you read the AP article, it reported that they don't know if Thai Union still sources shrimp from peeling factories which employ slave and child labor. The article says that the source of peeled shrimp is almost impossible to determine anymore because the peeling factories in Samut Sakorn are basically pop-up shells making it impossible to determine where wholesalers and distributors are sourcing the shrimp.

They're saying it's hard to tell where each shrimp comes from so you can't tell which ones comes from clean sources and which don't. But to take this as saying they think there is a possibility that now all TUs shrimp comes from clean sources is a massive stretch. Don't think they are implying that at all. Also it would make for a boring/less sensational story so no way they'd do that either.

[LannaGuy]

why can't Thailand have some INTEGRITY?

[bangon04]

He defamed his own organization by saying " Poj Aramwattananont, president of the association, said shrimp plants in Samut Sakhon no longer employed children or illegal foreign workers".

It does sound like "When did you stop beating your wife?"

[bangon04]

Where are 'peeled shrimps' ending up? I've only ever eaten unpeeled shrimps, but have seen a few packets of unpeeled shrimps for sale. Are they mostly for export or used in other products? I know it's besides the point, just curious...

Tesco?

[hgma]

While the overwhelming majority is talking about the horrible conditions , i would like to know, why is it that these practises are possible?

Slave and child labor? and nobody from the effected countries ever rang a bell?

Myanmar-Laos - Cambodia- Vietnam ??

When ringing bells , don't forget to ring the National church bell of the victims nations as well.

SHAME.

[MrJohnson]

The really sad thing about this is that it probably is just the tip of the iceberg in Thailand and many other developing countries. Right across manufacturing, agriculture and fisheries this kind of exploitation is going on. You could shine a light on large-scale chicken farming, the palm-oil industry, canning factories and let’s not even talk about the entertainment industry. I’m not defending the Thais but it is going on in many countries and we should be thankful for groups like Greenpeace and other NGOs for exposing these practices but at the end of the day as consumer we probably have to ask ourselves some pretty simple questions about cheap products. Why are they so cheap? The answer is probably that the workers involved in the production are probably being underpaid, at best, or exploited or , at worst, the victims of forced labor. So what do we do? Boycott?

[SOUTHERNSTAR]

''Poj Aramwattananont, president of the association, said shrimp plants in Samut Sakhon no longer employed children or illegal foreign workers.''

So he's admitting that they used to do so. What's the statute of limitations on slavery charges?

With the right connections a five year term as PM.

[Kasset Tak]

Too late. The truth is out. This industry has defamed the reputation of all things Thai. Seriously, I know these people think their own countrymen as gullible and stupid, but consumers with conscience will decide with their wallets and will not accept industry PR statements such as 'shrimp plants in Samut Sakhon no longer employed children or illegal foreign workers.'

People have always been deciding with their wallets, this would not have been a problem otherwise!

You can also see it if you start looking in to the Norwegian salmon industry. The salmons are grown in Norway, killed, sent to China by AIR for processing and then back to Europe or to the rest of the world.

Another example is clothes manufacturing, it's mowing around the world to where it's cheapest to produce for the day and in many cases child labors are part of the production of designer garments!

All this thanks to that most people are/has been/will continue deciding by their wallets.

[Ulic]

Don't be troubled by the facts. There are no problems with the Thai frozen fish.