Andy Hall, co-founder of the Migrant Worker Rights Network. (Photo: Andy Hall)
Myanmar seafood workers demand better working conditions
(THAILAND, 1/31/2017)
Leaders representing more than 2,000 migrant workers from Myanmar claimed yesterday at Unicord, a subsidiary of the Sea Value Group, and government labour protection authorities, higher wages and better working conditions.
The petition was presented by seven delegates on behalf of 2,243 migrant workers employed in the Group's processing factories, which is an unusual occurrence in a country where foreigners can not form unions, AFP reported.
"The main demands are for increased bonus, increased night shift allowance, increased incentives," Andy Hall, co-founder of the Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN) said in a statement, highlighting that the workers had previously won concessions on reducing recruitment fees.
The leader added, "We believe this negotiation will be successful and lead to a trickle-down effect where other employees will be empowered and feel confident to organise and collectively bargain to make demands of their employers."
For its part, the company, which is Thai major seafood exporter, declined to comment on the facts.
In 2015, a report by a Finnish advocacy organisation found that Unicord had improved working conditions since the group began monitoring the company in 2012, but said its workers paid high recruitment fees.
Unicord reduced the recruitment fees last year after 200 workers protested outside the factory, Hall said, adding that their success emboldened them to submit the current demands.
Meanwhile, the Group’s webpage indicates its products "meet and exceed consumer expectations with good manufacturing practices, ethical standards and promoted industrial and environmental sustainability."
Thailand is the world's third largest seafood exporter, but the sector is mainly staffed by poor migrant workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia.
Numerous cases of rights abuses and cheap labour in its fishing fleets and many food processing factories have been denounced.
Many employees remain undocumented, despite recent government efforts to register all migrant labourers.
In addition, the European Union has recently threatened to ban all its seafood products unless the military government tackles the issue of illegal fishing among its fleets.
Related articles:
- EU delegation assesses Thailand’s efforts to combat IUU fishing
- Govt intensifies measures to pass EU fisheries inspection
- Thai Union ensures to be combatting labour force
- Thai PM promises actions against shrimp-slavery
- Thai Union announces further measures to stop slave labour in its supply chain
[email protected]
www.seafood.media
Information of the company:
Address:
|
39/3 Moo 8, Sethakit 1 Road Tha Sai District
|
City:
|
Samut Sakhon
|
State/ZIP:
|
Bangkok (74000)
|
Country:
|
Thailand
|
Phone:
|
+66 3442 2962 5
|
Fax:
|
+66 2416 5448
|
E-Mail:
|
[email protected]
|
More about:
|
Approval / Accreditation / Certified / Oversight by...
|