CPF, Thai Union commit to tackle modern slavery

At the Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) Dialogue annual meeting in Phuket, the two companies said that “modern-day slavery is a global challenge, requiring collective efforts to eradicate it. In doing so during recent years, Thailand has mobilised contributions from the government, the private sector, civil society and other relevant stakeholders.
“We have made significant progress in all areas: including legislation, law enforcement, supply chain management, capacity building of stakeholders, application of technological innovation, among others. We stand ready to share our experiences with the international community and join hands with others to turn modern-day slavery into an issue of the past.”
Prasit Boondoungprasert, the CEO of Charoen Pokphand Foods PCL (CPF), said, “Respect for human rights is our top priority, especially in our labour recruitment process and welfare practices. In doing so, we have supported the Fishermen Life Enhancement Centre (FLEC) in Songkhla province of Thailand. The centre provides a number of training packages to promote the well-being of fishing crews.”
He added that CPF is committed to its sustainable packaging policy, committing to 100 per cent of its plastic packaging being reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2025.
Thiraphong Chansiri, the CEO of Thai Union, said, “At Thai Union, we are resolute in our commitment to fight human trafficking. Supply chains in the seafood industry are incredibly complex, but we have implemented measures to combat potential risks including improved supply chain management, and we have conducted third-party audits of our suppliers.
“But we know we can’t fight this on our own, which is why we take a collaborative approach and work with various stakeholders as we pursue genuine change.”
At the SeaBOS meeting, Adisorn Promthep, the director-general of Thailand’s Department of Fisheries, outlined how the imposition of a “yellow card” on Thailand by the European Union due to unsustainable fishing practices had resulted in improved sustainability in the domestic industry. He said the yellow card – which was lifted in early 2019 –had also resulted in Thailand introducing formal management regulations that were now being enforced, as well as reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing and forced labour in Thailand.
SeaBOS is an initiative that brings together scientists from the Stockholm Resilience Centre at Stockholm University, the Royal Academy of Sciences in Sweden and 10 of the largest seafood companies in the world. SeaBOS’s stated aim is to lead a global transformation towards sustainable seafood production and a healthy ocean.