The Thai Frozen Foods Association (TFFA) has decided to stop buying processed shrimps from external shrimp-peeling sheds and will instead process shrimps in-house in a move to support efforts to combat human trafficking and labour abuse in the industry.
The move will take effect on Jan 1. The decision followed a vote by association members to reduce the risk of illegal labour practices in the Thai shrimp industry, according to the TFFA.
As of Jan 1, all TFFA members will process shrimps in-house to exercise full control over the working conditions of employees in the supply chain, it said.
Any members who still buy shrimps from external shrimp-peeling sheds will have their membership revoked and be barred from exporting shrimp products. The TFFA said it will work with local non-government organisations to offer employment to workers who may lose their jobs at shrimp-peeling sheds to ease the impact of the move.
As an association and a representative of the Thai seafood industry, the TFFA was keen to fight human rights violations and illegal labour in the supply chain, said TFFA president Poj Aramwattananon.
"It is clear that complete transparency and full oversight is required. This is the only way to restore the industry's image and protect it from accusations of slave labour," he said. "Members will only produce and export shrimps processed in-house. We don't want to face any accusations from abroad," he added.
Akhom Krueawan, president of the Samut Sakhon Seafood Processing Club, called on the TFFA to review the decision, saying the move will hurt those in shrimp production. This will include shrimp-farming companies, and more than 5,000 migrant workers in shrimp-peeling sheds who will lose their jobs, he said. The TFFA should delay the move by six months so shed operators have time to prepare.
With strict law enforcement against labour abuse, several sub-standard shrimp-peeling sheds in Samut Sakhon have been closed, Mr Arkhom said.
The TFFA should punish operators involved in labour abuse, not those who are not, he said.