01/12/2016

Thai Union Committed to Promoting Sustainable Fishing Practices with Safe and Legal Labor

As the largest seafood producer in the world, Thai Union Group is committed and focused on efforts of reform in the fishing industry and taken significant steps to promote safe and legal labor.

That starts with implementing a zero-tolerance policy for human rights violations, as Dr. Darian McBain, Global Sustainability Director at Thai Union, highlights in a Medium.com article entitled “Tackling Slavery at Sea.”

First, Thai Union put in place SeaChange, our sustainability strategy incorporating a labor roadmap that promotes safe and legal employment. Second, the company engaged in a traceability program that monitors our product from catch to consumption. Traceability is the backbone of our responsible sourcing program, enabling Thai Union to prove its seafood is legally and safely produced, while helping promote workers’ voice at sea and on the land. And third, we subject ourselves to best-in-class external verifications and audits by third-party certification bodies as well as civil society, working to promote standard labor practices and eradicate labor abuses from the industry.

We also work with advocacy groups to engage workers in social dialogue and ensure we are fully aware of their perspectives on labor conditions.

However, problems still exist and Thai Union recognizes more still needs to be done. We will continue our work with government, stakeholders and the wider seafood industry, working together to drive change and ensure safe and legal labor for all workers.

To read the full article “Tackling Slavery at Sea” on Medium.com, please click here: https://medium.com/@darian_mcbain/tackling-slavery-at-sea-c63901e4e53f#.25ngdiqjn

To read about Thai Union’s commitment to safe, legal and freely-chosen employment, please click here.