After consistently fiercely denying Finnish group, Finnwatch’s accusations of the existence of child labor in its tuna processing plants, Thai Union Frozen Products (TUF) has launched its first child care center at Wat Sri Sutaram School, also for migrant children.
The TUF Care Center in Samut Sakhon, Thailand can be seen as the country’s leading tuna and seafood processor as positive show of it company values , and a reaction to allegations of child labor, also from side of Spanish Industry organizations, by setting up a foundation in education for children of all nationalities in the local community.
Third gentleman from the right is Mr. Thirapong Chansiri, CEO of Thai Union
Earlier this year Finnwatch claimed it found that the canneries employed 14 to 17-year-old migrants, carrying false passports. TUF issued a statement to its customers in response to the accusations stating that these were mistruths and the allegation that TUF employs individuals under the legal working age was false.
Mr. Rittirong Boonmechote, Managing Director of TUF said about the Care Canter “This milestone project will be an ongoing initiative, with the company pledging its support by investing 10THB million over the next five years into the development of similar projects across the province.†TUF also plans to open a second Care Center later this year.
“Social development and education support is one of the areas TUF is working on under our sustainability policy and we are excited to have embarked on such an extraordinary initiative with ‘TUF Care Center' that will have a positive impact on the quality of life for children of all backgrounds and nationalities in the Samut Sakhon area.â€
As part of its ongoing commitment to corporate social responsibility and sustainability, TUF has collaborated with the Labor Rights Promotion Network (LPN) to establish the first TUF Care Centre. This is also in line with the human rights policy of Samut Sakhon Local Council. TUF aims to extend these relationships with key local organizations to provide services and facilities that help promote and protect human rights throughout its supply chain and across the country.
It is important for TUF to show its company in a positive light, not only to its consumers but also due to recent requests for Thai tuna to enter into a free trade agreement with the European Union, strongly opposed by Spain who believes it will create a huge threat to the European canned tuna processing sector. Accusations of child labor at Thai Processing plants have been a key argument by the Spanish canned seafood processors organization ANFACO however never no evidence of such allegations was ever provided.
According to Mr. Supreecha Champasingha, Principle of Wat Sri Sutaram School, the new TUF Care Centre classroom and facilities provides space for language classes as well as fundamental subjects that will help the school's migrant children move into the Thai education system.
