International reports that have revealed bad working conditions in Thai fishing sector harm the country's image. (Photo Credit: ILRF)

Thai seafood sector joins efforts to upgrade the country's image

THAILAND
Thursday, June 18, 2015, 01:00 (GMT + 9)

Several Thai leading fishing firms and seafood sector associations have committed to join efforts to “urgently and seriously” tackle the human trafficking, forced labour and unregulated capture issues, since they have affected the industry’s reputation in the country.

This decision to join efforts came a year after the United States downgraded Thailand to the lowest "Tier 3" status among the world's worst centres of human trafficking and some months after the country received warnings from the European Commission after journalistic investigations revealed the existence of ill-treatment of illegal migrant workers as well as illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices.

The sector sources consulted by FIS.com reported that the business group, led by Thai Chamber of Commerce and Board of Trade of Thailand, includes top seafood producers such as Charoen Pokphand Foods, Thai Union Frozen Products, Sea Value Group, Andaman Seafood Group and TRF Feedmill Co, which represents 80 per cent of Thailand's shrimp feedmeal sector.

One of the main goals of the group is to “unlock” Thailand from its current poor status in both the US and the European Union (EU) evaluations of labour issues as well as promote the country's image and sustainable growth of the industry, strictly complying with new Thai fishing laws.

For his part, Poj Aramwattananont, vice chairman of Board of Trade of Thailand and Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA) president, pointed out in statements to Reuters: "We want to tell the world that we are very serious in cleaning up the entire seafood supply chain to create sustainability in the fishery industry.”

The US and EU are among the top three export markets for Thai fishery products, accounting for half of the total last year.

As a move to protect the industry, the TFFA revealed a measure to rid the Thai shrimp supply chain from illegal employment by announcing that it would use only shrimp and feed meal from legal processors at primary sources of production.

Another measure taken was to alert private enterprises to commit to discontinuing the purchase of aquatic products from unregistered, illegal and unregulated (IUU) fishing, along with the production line.

For his part, Rittirong Boonmechote, president of the Global Shrimp Business Unit of Thai Union Group, said Thai businesses would not only take steps to comply with international standards related to the fishery industry, but would also be more concerned about sustainable growth of the sector, which would in turn ensure environment production.

For this reason, Thai operators committed to learn to adopt increasingly sophisticated technology and standards to ensure fair practice for labour, the environment and sustainable growth of the fishery industry.

Aramwattananont remarked that it is expected the US would favourably consider upgrading the Kingdom's status in its "Trafficking in Persons Report" (TIP) by the end of this month and that the EU does not attach the "red" status to Thailand in its upcoming IUU fishing review, scheduled to be released in October.

Related articles:

- Thailand warned on illegal fishing, South Korea and Philippines delisted
- Thailand hopes to resume talks with EU on FTA
- Thailand downgraded to Tier 3 in Trafficking in Persons Report
- Journalistic research reveals 'globalised slavery' in prawn sector  

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