Warehouse workers from three Finnish companies have vowed not to handle some Thai juices between Feb. 12-14, following a report from NGO Finnwatch that alleges suspicions of forced labor and human trafficking in certain factories in the South East Asian nation.
A release from Finland’s Service Union United said workers from SOK, Tuko Logistics and Kesko would not move the juices to supermarkets during the period, in an attempt enhance social responsibility throughout the delivery chain.
The Finnwatch report “Out of a Ditch, into a Pond” is a follow-up investigation from last year’s “Cheap Comes With A High Price”, which led to processor Natural Fruit Company launching defamation and libel suits against British human rights activist Andy Hall.
“The follow-up report shows that much needs to be done to have a genuinely responsible procurement chain. It is not enough to pay lip service and say how sorry we are,” Kesko union branch chairman Petri Järvinen said.
“Moreover, the aim of the boycott is to make the supplier VIP-Juicemaker and its Dutch parent company understand that responsible operations are, in the end, also in their best interest,” added shop steward Heikki Laakkonen from Inex Partners’ (SOK) Kilo warehouse.
Finnwatch’s report also includes pineapple concentrate producer Vita Food Factory, along with Thai Union Manufacturing (TUM), Unicord.
Source: Fresh Fruit Portal
