Picture: Finnwatch

Migrant workers' rights are being trampled on in the production of goods imported to Finland by the discount retailer Tokmanni. Finnwatch interviewed migrant workers at two factories in Thailand for the report On the borderline of responsibilityth, published today.

Migrant workers at the factory of a baby care product manufacturer Zenith Infant Product are indebted due to high recruitment fees occurred even before they start working. Workers at Great Oriental Food Products, who produce canned mango imported to Finland by the retail chain, are undocumented and they are paid illegally low wages.

⁠–⁠ Tokmanni has failed to carry out effective monitoring of its suppliers' responsibility policies and practices and has become involved in human rights violations at these two factories, said Finnwatch researcher Anu Kultalahti.

In order to mitigate human rights risks companies should seek to avoid purchases from suppliers whose working conditions they have not gathered information on through a human rights due diligence process. Tokmanni has made purchases from factories in risk countries without adequate controls in place.

⁠–⁠ We encourage Tokmanni to sign up to the newly adopted shared vision for respecting the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights in Grocery Trade Supply Chains between Finnish grocery trade, NGOs and authorities, said Kultalahti.

This year, Finnwatch has repeatedly brought to light human rights violations in the supply chains of Finnish companies in Thailand.

⁠–⁠ Of particular concern are the various recruitment related fees that are charged to migrant workers. It is only fair that the employer should cover the full cost of recruitment, said Kultalahti.

⁠–⁠ The official migration policies are a contributing factor to the situation were many workers are at risk of debt bondage due to recruitment fees. It is time for the Thai authorities to adopt and implement human rights based, fit-⁠for-⁠purpose migrant labour policies, she added.

Finnwatch report On the borderline of responsibility is available here >>

Contact:

Anu Kultalahti
Researcher
Mob: +358 44 7193096
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Tämä teos, jonka tekijä on Finnwatch, on lisensoitu Creative Commons Nimeä-EiKaupallinen-EiMuutoksia 4.0 Kansainvälinen -lisenssillä.