Slavery In Supermarket Supply Chains Can And Must Be Eliminated

The continued enslavement of migrants working in the Thai fishing industry highlights flaws in the monitoring of suppliers

Human rights abuses remain widespread within the supply chains of some of the world's largest retailers and brands. Those importing seafood from Thailand must now acknowledge that these abuses include slavery.

The Thai seafood sector employs about 650,000 people, the vast majority of whom are migrant workers from poorer neighbouring countries including Burma, Cambodia and Laos. Many of these workers are trafficked into Thailand and exploited by companies using undocumented, cheap, underpaid workers. The unluckiest, and often the most vulnerable, are sold into slavery to work on Thai fishing boats.

We know this. The Thai government and its agencies know this. The companies doing business with Thailand and selling seafood in Europe, the US and across the world know this.