Thai Union Group and the International Transport Workers’ Federation (ITF) have embarked in a three-year partnership focused on ethical recruitment, worker protections, and grievance and remediation systems for migrant fishers in its supply chain.
This effort will initially focus on Indonesian migrant workers on Taiwanese-flagged vessels in Thai Union’s supply chain, combining the company’s supplier engagement with the ITF’s experience advancing fishers’ rights, safety, and working conditions.
The collaboration rolls out in phases, starting with pre-departure and pre-contract training for migrant fishers, verification of recruitment contracts and fees, financial literacy and health & safety education, and outreach on workers’ rights and available grievance channels.
‘It’s well known that fishing is one of the world’s most dangerous industries – but it doesn’t have to be,’ said ITF Fisheries Section chair Johnny Hansen.
‘Partnerships like this between the ITF and Thai Union set a template that shows how companies and trade unions can and must come together to ensure that fishers are protected and respected.’
The partnership will also support the rollout of digital tools, building on approaches proven in other sectors, to strengthen transparency and verification of worker-related information, alongside joint work to design a grievance and remediation framework involving Thai Union, the ITF and vessel owners.
Together, these efforts will strengthen worker voice, improve early risk identification, and support more effective resolution of grievances in practice with potential to expand in the future.
‘Thai Union wants migrant fishers in our supply chain to feel safe, respected, and treated fairly. Through this partnership with the ITF, we are taking a structured, worker-centered approach to improve ethical recruitment, and operationalize grievance and remediation systems in practice. We aim to build a model that can inform broader industry efforts,’ said Adam Brennan, chief sustainability and communications officer at Thai Union Group
This initiative supports Thai Union’s SeaChange 2030 sustainability strategy.
