Charoen Pokphand Foods’ (CP Foods) is pushing forward all of its operations in livestock and aquaculture business to be certified Thai Labour Standard and Thai Corporate Social Responsibility: TLS 8001-2010 within 2019.
Currently, 125 CP Foods’ feed mills, processing plants and farms, accounting for 85% of the company’s operations, are certified TLS 8001-2010 at completion level and the highest level. The audit process was conducted by SGS (Thailand) and TÜV SÜD Thailand, third party certification bodies with worldwide reputation.
To be certified at completion level, the company must implement voluntary labour regulations and practice, covering the issues of human rights, employment conditions, and working conditions in compliance to internationally recognized standards. Overtime paid for shifts is limit to 12 hours per week at the highest level.
Mr. Parisotat Punnabhum, CP Foods’ Executive Vice President of Human Resources, said human rights and wellbeing of workers are company’s key drivers to sustainability. Therefore, it has committed to push all livestock and aquaculture operations to be certified this standard.
CP Foods also encourages farmers and other suppliers to adopt the labour standard. The practices aims to ensure fair and equal treatment to all workers across the entire supply chain, ending all kind of human trafficking in Thailand.
“The certification reflects the company policy to obtain sustainable business growth by providing good quality of life to all workers who work with us and our partners,” Mr. Parisotat said.
He added that CP Foods has a recruitment policy in line with Thailand’s memorandum of understanding (MOU) with neighbouring countries. CPF also supported recruitment-related expenses, including application fees, training fees, medical check-up fees and work licensing fees. They also received equal pay and enjoy the same benefit as local workers.
In addition to the certification process, CP Foods has teamed up with independent organizations to tackle human rights abuses and create sustainable fishery in Thailand.
The company and Labour Promotion Network Foundation (LPN) have extended partnerships on Labour Voice by LPN project for 2nd year to encourage Thai and migrant workers to voice their concerns. It also provides consult on labour laws to the company’s workers through hotline service and workshops at CP Foods’ plants nationwide.
In Songkhla, one of the country’s largest fishery area, CP Foods, government agencies and NGO have been operating Songkhla’s Fishermen's Life Enhancement Centre (FLEC) to enhance fishermen and their family’s quality of life.
Since its establishment 4 years ago, the center has provided knowledge on labour rights, educational classes and other related activities to improve wellbeing of thousands fishermen and their families.
As one of a global exporter, the company has been closely with international fisheries partnerships such as Seafood Taskforce and Seafood Business for Ocean Stewardship (SeaBOS) to take action against forced labour in fishery industry across the globe.
“CP Foods has partnered with those independent organizations and concerned government to uplift the standard of Thai livestock and aquaculture industries by eliminating slavery and human trafficking, ensuring our customers of slavery-free and transparent supply chain.” he said.
