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| UK to raise slavery concerns with Thailand after prawn exposé | UK to raise slavery concerns with Thailand after prawn exposé |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Ministers will seek ways to raise concerns with Thailand about the use of slaves to produce prawns supplied to UK supermarkets following an investigation by the Guardian, Baroness Warsi, a Foreign Office minister, has said. | |
| The senior Conservative said the government expected the Thai authorities to investigate and would seek opportunities to discuss the issue in diplomatic discussions. In the first response from a minister to the Guardian's investigation, Warsi admitted the UK's influence was "limited" given the acute political uncertainty in Thailand. | |
| However, she added: "We take the allegations very seriously and will look for opportunities to raise our concerns. At a minimum, we will continue to press for an improvement in labour rights in Thailand through ongoing negotiations towards an EU-Thailand free trade agreement." | However, she added: "We take the allegations very seriously and will look for opportunities to raise our concerns. At a minimum, we will continue to press for an improvement in labour rights in Thailand through ongoing negotiations towards an EU-Thailand free trade agreement." |
| Warsi said the government had been aware of labour rights issues in the Thai fishing industry, but it was unaware of the "very serious" allegations about global supermarkets selling prawns produced through slave labour that were uncovered by the Guardian after a six-month investigation. | |
| She made the comments in a parliamentary question from Labour peer Lord Beecham, who pressed the government on what it intends to do about the abuse of workers in Thailand's fishing industry and its response to UK companies that purchase those products. | She made the comments in a parliamentary question from Labour peer Lord Beecham, who pressed the government on what it intends to do about the abuse of workers in Thailand's fishing industry and its response to UK companies that purchase those products. |
| Earlier this month, the Guardian revealed that slavery is integral to the production of prawns available in leading global supermarkets including Tesco, Walmart, Costco and Carrefour. The investigation discovered that slaves are being forced to work in Thailand for no pay for years at a time, under threat of extreme violence, in the production of seafood sold by major US, British and other European retailers. | Earlier this month, the Guardian revealed that slavery is integral to the production of prawns available in leading global supermarkets including Tesco, Walmart, Costco and Carrefour. The investigation discovered that slaves are being forced to work in Thailand for no pay for years at a time, under threat of extreme violence, in the production of seafood sold by major US, British and other European retailers. |
| UK ministers have until now been silent on the subject, but last week in the US Thailand was relegated to the lowest rank in the state department's Trafficking in Persons report – meaning it is now considered no better than North Korea, Iran or Saudi Arabia in the way it protects workers from abuse. | |
| Asked about the allegations at the time, David Cameron's official spokesman said it was up to consumers whether they chose to eat prawns that had been produced through the work of slaves. | Asked about the allegations at the time, David Cameron's official spokesman said it was up to consumers whether they chose to eat prawns that had been produced through the work of slaves. |
| "Consumer standards and retail standards and social responsibility is often driven by consumers and rightly so," he said. | "Consumer standards and retail standards and social responsibility is often driven by consumers and rightly so," he said. |
| The government is introducing fresh penalties to deter modern slavery through a bill unveiled in the Queen's speech, but this has been criticised for its narrow focus on slavery in the UK and failure to tackle the problem of goods produced through slavery abroad. | |
| In contrast, Labour has called on the government to do more to stop UK supermarkets stocking food produced by abused workers. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, is pushing for new requirements for firms to declare any use of slavery in their supply chains while the government prefers a voluntary approach. | In contrast, Labour has called on the government to do more to stop UK supermarkets stocking food produced by abused workers. Yvette Cooper, the shadow home secretary, is pushing for new requirements for firms to declare any use of slavery in their supply chains while the government prefers a voluntary approach. |
| The Home Office has said the government wanted to work collaboratively with businesses to support them to eliminate forced labour in supply chains "in a way which does not place additional burdens on them". | The Home Office has said the government wanted to work collaboratively with businesses to support them to eliminate forced labour in supply chains "in a way which does not place additional burdens on them". |
| It has also pointed out that the EU was likely to enact new laws in 2016 forcing companies to report on human rights in their "business relationships", which could mean firms would have to audit their supply chains for signs of slavery. | |
| "In taking any further action in this area, the government is, therefore, mindful of existing requirements on business and possible future changes to the business reporting regime," the Home Office said. | "In taking any further action in this area, the government is, therefore, mindful of existing requirements on business and possible future changes to the business reporting regime," the Home Office said. |
| "In doing so, we recognise the complexity of supply chain issues, particularly where they involve links with business overseas and where the influence of UK-based companies is diminished. Cross-government action is being taken to bring businesses together to discuss the challenges and opportunities in tackling modern slavery in supply chains." | "In doing so, we recognise the complexity of supply chain issues, particularly where they involve links with business overseas and where the influence of UK-based companies is diminished. Cross-government action is being taken to bring businesses together to discuss the challenges and opportunities in tackling modern slavery in supply chains." |
| Lord Beecham, a shadow justice spokesman in the Lords, said the government should commit to making "strong representations to the Thai government". He also called on ministers to "press those UK companies purchasing products from tainted sources to cease doing so until the dreadful exploitation of defenceless workers is ended". | Lord Beecham, a shadow justice spokesman in the Lords, said the government should commit to making "strong representations to the Thai government". He also called on ministers to "press those UK companies purchasing products from tainted sources to cease doing so until the dreadful exploitation of defenceless workers is ended". |
| He added: "If the US can take action, so should we." | He added: "If the US can take action, so should we." |