Thai Union Frozen Products (TUF) announced it would be following the International Labor Organization (ILO)’s Good Labor Practices (GLP) program, which combats forced labor and related practices.
The Thai fishing industry has come under fire in recent months, with reports from two separate organizations detailing abusive forced-labor situations on board Thai fishing ships. Over the summer, the U.S. State Department announced it was keeping Thailand on a list of nations that have not done enough to curb slave labor.
TUF, a leading tuna producer in the region, announced its intent to follow the program today, as an extension of the company’s previous and ongoing efforts to fish responsibly.
“We have always been committed to good labor practices,” said Thiraphong Chansiri, TUF’s president. “We will continue to take appropriate measures to ensure all labor practices are of an internationally ethical standard.”
TUF’s announcement earned praise from the ILO.
“It’s encouraging to see that a Thai-based global brand like TUF openly supports good labor practices and will work with our organization to improve the industry standards in Thailand,” said Maurizio Bussi, ILO’s country director for Thailand, Cambodia and Laos. “We hope that in turn this inspires other Thai organizations to participate and become aware of the importance of promptly addressing child labor and other unacceptable forms of work across the seafood industry.”
