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Thai court drops charges for workers who claimed they slept next to hens Thai court drops charges for workers who claimed they slept next to hens
(about 5 hours later)
A Thai court has dismissed defamation charges against 14 migrant workers who alleged labour abuses in the country’s multimillion-pound poultry export industry. A Thai court has dismissed charges against 14 migrant workers who alleged labour abuses in the country’s multimillion-pound poultry export industry.
Activists hailed the move as a rare victory for migrant worker rights in Thailand.Activists hailed the move as a rare victory for migrant worker rights in Thailand.
The 14 workers, all from Myanmar, filed a complaint in 2016 against their former employer Thammakaset Farm 2, a poultry farm in central Thailand, which at the time supplied Thai food giant Betagro. The 14 workers, all from Myanmar, filed a complaint in 2016 against their former employer Thammakaset Farm 2, a poultry farm, which at the time supplied Thai food giant Betagro.
The workers alleged that they had been forced to work 22-hour days without overtime and were often required to sleep in the chicken sheds with close to 30,000 hens. They also said their passports had been confiscated and their freedom of movement was severely restricted. The workers alleged that they had been forced to work 22-hour days without overtime and to often sleep in the chicken sheds with 30,000 hens. They also said their passports had been confiscated and their freedom restricted.
The owner of Thammakaset Farm 2 denied the allegations and filed defamation charges in a turnaround against the workers, claiming their allegations had damaged the farm’s reputation. The owner of Thammakaset Farm 2 filed defamation charges in a turnaround against the workers, claiming their allegations were false and had damaged the farm’s reputation.
The workers faced up to one year in prison as well as fines if convicted. The workers faced up to one year in prison and heavy fines if convicted.
Migrant workers from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar – many of them undocumented – comprise much of Thailand’s agricultural and industrial sectors. The criminal defamation charges against the 14 migrant workers were the first of their kind and sent a clear signal, activists claimed, not to complain about their working conditions. Migrants from Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar – many of them undocumented – staff much of Thailand’s agriculture. The charges against the 14 migrant workers were the first of their kind and sent a clear warning, activists claimed, about complaints over conditions.
Betagro is one of Thailand’s largest chicken exporters, with clients across Europe. Thailand supplies nearly 40% of all imported processed poultry meat in the UK, according to the most recent official figures. But rights groups claim those figures are likely to be far higher, as Thai chicken is often used in ready meals and pet food. If processed in the EU, that chicken is usually classed with an EU “country of origin” label rather than being marked as from Thailand. Thailand supplies nearly 40% of all imported processed poultry meat in the UK, according to the most recent official figures. But rights groups claim those figures are likely to be far higher, as Thai chicken is used in ready meals and pet food. If processed in the EU, that meat is classed with an EU not Thai “country of origin” label.
In a statement issued in August 2016, Betagro confirmed that Thammakaset Farm 2 was one of its suppliers, but said it had since “stopped business operations with the farm until there is a solution to the labour conflict”.In a statement issued in August 2016, Betagro confirmed that Thammakaset Farm 2 was one of its suppliers, but said it had since “stopped business operations with the farm until there is a solution to the labour conflict”.
Nakhon Chompuchat, a lawyer for the defendants, said Wednesday’s ruling could help bring greater justice to an industry long marred by allegations of abuse, debt bondage, high recruitment fees and abysmal pay. Nakhon Chompuchat, the workers’ lawyer, said Wednesday’s ruling could help bring greater justice to an industry long marred by allegations of abuse, debt bondage, high recruitment fees and abysmal pay.
“This is a very good verdict for all migrant workers in the country,” said Chompuchat. “It says workers need not be afraid to speak up against [alleged] violations by their employers.” “This is a very good verdict for all migrant workers in the country,” said Chompuchat. “It says workers need not be afraid to speak up.”
The company has been ordered to pay the workers 1.7m baht (£38,000) by Thailand’s department of labour protection and welfare, in compensation and damages for their claims of overwork and underpayment, but the money has been held up while the company appeals the case. The company is now appealing the court’s order to pay the workers 1.7m baht (£38,000) by Thailand’s labour department, in compensation and damages for overwork and underpayment.
Migrant rights activist Andy Hall, who has supported the 14 workers throughout their case, and also faces charges of defamation and computer crimes for his social media work on the Thammakaset case, said that a number of international buyers pulled out of Thailand once the case went public, and have since started sourcing from countries with less civil society oversight. Rights activist Andy Hall, who has supported the 14 workers throughout their case, and also faces charges for his social media work on the case, said that a number of international buyers pulled out of Thailand once the case went public, and are sourcing from countries with less civil society oversight.
“This is a landmark ruling for migrant worker rights, freedom of expression and business human rights issues in Thailand,” Hall told the Guardian.“This is a landmark ruling for migrant worker rights, freedom of expression and business human rights issues in Thailand,” Hall told the Guardian.
“But the workers remain without any compensation until today, showing in practice the challenges migrants continue to face in Thailand in gaining access to justice even when official compensation orders are issued in their favour.” “But the workers remain without any compensation, showing in practice the challenges migrants continue to face gaining access to justice even when official compensation orders are issued in their favour.”
EmploymentEmployment
Human rights in focusHuman rights in focus
ThailandThailand
Asia PacificAsia Pacific
GovernanceGovernance
Migration and developmentMigration and development
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