Thai Union Welcomes Over One Thousand Workers Formerly at External Pre-Processing Suppliers
18 JANUARY 2016, SAMUT SAKHON, THAILAND — Thai Union is pleased to announce that as of the 6th January 2016, over one thousand former employees from external pre-processing facilities have been employed to work in Thai Union factories.
Figure 1: Former external pre-processing facility workers line up for the Thai Union employment application and recruitment process.
After ending all relationships with external pre-processing facilities to help ensure the full oversight of all processing stages in the supply chain, Thai Union committed to the provision of employment for an additional 1,000 workers in its factories in Samut Sakhon. The company has since been able to welcome close to 1,200 workers.
The new employees have been fully registered for work permits with the Royal Thai Government through the employment process. At Thai Union they will be paid wages consistent with TU processing line employees which also meets the minimum wage requirements under Thai law. They have been provided with all apparel and equipment, as required by Thai Union health and safety standards along with an induction workshop to inform these workers about their employment rights under the Thai law, the employment rules and regulations under Thai Union Group, their wages, benefits and employee welfare rights. Induction for employees began on the 4th January 2016.
Figure 2: Employees receiving their full uniforms, in line with International health and safety standards.
Figure 3: Workers receiving health checks, necessary for all employees who obtain a Thai work permit
Additionally, Thai Union provided financial support to those workers who had been out of work since Thai Union ceased business with external pre-processors. During this transition period, the pre-processing employees were paid their minimum wage to ensure that they were not struggling as a result of external factors. Thai Union also provides free transportation for employees from their places of residence to the factories to help with the transition to their new working arrangements.
Mr. Rittirong Boonmechote, President, Global Shrimp Business of Thai Union stated, "We are extremely pleased to be able to offer safe and legal employment to former workers from the external pre-processing facilities. Ensuring transparency, traceability of our supply chain and upholding the rights of our employees is of paramount importance, and I am confident that by working in-house at our processing facilities, these workers' rights will be guaranteed. I wish all of our new employees the best in their work with Thai Union."
Figure 4: The new Thai Union employees, fully registered with legal work permits, wearing full uniform, ready to start work.
Thai Union operates facilities in full compliance with Thai Labor laws and regulations concerning the recruitment and employment of our workforce. Our employees receive the minimum wage, plus performance-linked and work-related incentives. Thai Union fully supports the promotion of workers' rights, and is a founding member of the United Nations Global Compact Local Network for Thailand.