Major brands found failing to help Thai seafood sector tackle slavery
Efforts to protect Thai seafood workers from labor exploitation and modern slavery risk stalling as most international brands and retailers refuse to pay their suppliers more to comply with new anti-slavery policies, researchers said on Wednesday.
Thai seafood suppliers are struggling with rising production costs as they seek to improve labor conditions and meet new anti-slavery laws and regulations, with little or no financial help from big buyers, found a study here by rights group Praxis Labs.
“The disconnect between what buyers purport to want and what they’re willing to pay … comes through sharply,” said Sarah Mount of anti-slavery group The Freedom Fund, which co-funded the study based on the policies and actions of 28 companies.
Nanchanok Wongsamuth
