A partner organisation of the BWI, the Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN) in Myanmar, is celebrating a significant victory in the fight for migrant workers rights in the Thai seafood industry. Golden Prize Tuna Canning, a Thai tuna processing factory, has agreed to pay US$1.3 million compensation to Myanmar labourers for their past abuses and exploitative working conditions, after a strike involving over 1000 workers took place.
Thailand is the world’s third largest seafood exporter, and the industry is renowned for labour exploitation and human rights abuses. Recently the Obama administration implemented measures to ban Thai seafood imports produced by slavery, and the European Parliament is currently considering an all-out ban of Thai seafood imports.
You can read more information on the case on the links below:
Rare Thai labour win as tuna factory pays out $1.3m (AFP)
Myanmar Workers Win ‘Unprecedented’ Backpay From Cannery Factory (Khaosod English)
Myanmar migrant workers win $1.3m from Thai tuna firm (Guardian)