Natural Fruit asked to drop case against Andy Hall

BSCI is a leading business-driven initiative for companies committed to improving working conditions in factories and farms.

"Constructive cooperation, support and thus dialogue are therefore BSCI’s main core values and we believe these should be the principles guiding this case. The actions taken by the Thai producer will only have a negative impact on the country’s industry and consumers’ trust," it said in a statement released on September 1.

In the statement, it expressed great concern about civil and criminal charges pressed by Thai-based Natural Fruit Company against activist Andy Hall. These charges pertain to his actions in reporting labour abuses at the premises of the pineapple producer in a report called “Cheap has a High Price”, published by Finnish NGO Finnwatch.

"BSCI acknowledges the essential role NGOs play in ensuring the protection of workers’ rights, and engages regularly with different stakeholders to create synergies and deepen impact. For this reason, BSCI joins the international motion calling on the Thai pineapple industry to drop charges against Hall and to engage in a constructive dialogue that addresses the accusations raised in the report," it said.

It also implied that the BSCI approach is built on a step-by-step development process in which participating companies and producers work together to achieve sustainable and long-lasting improvements in their supply chain’s working conditions. 

The Nation