The assessment report, ‘Turning principles into pathways: the future of the GLP programme’, provided a series of recommendation to strengthen the Seafood Good Labour Practices (GLP) scheme. The Thai Tuna Industry Association (TTIA) and Thai Frozen Food Association (TFFA) agreed and strengthened their commitment to the programme to ensure that it succeeds as a robust and credible industry improvement programme.
Steps agreed by the industry associations include involving civil society organizations in factory visits and providing more detailed annual public reporting such as information on the composition of Worker Welfare Committees in participating factories and worker grievances. Recognizing the contribution of migrant and women workers to the sector, the Association committed to increasing their number on Worker Welfare Committees as well as provide incentives to encourage participation.
Both associations will recommend the adoption of the ‘employer pays’ principle for all recruitment fees and associated costs incurred in Thailand in order to minimize the risks of recruitment-related debts among workers. In addition, the associations will ask members to immediately ban pregnancy screening during recruitment and recommend factories make breastfeeding facilities available. The TFFA will also encourage members to provide special working arrangements during pregnancy and distribute free sanitary napkins. The assessment report was a key step in evaluating progress made with the GLP programme while paving new directions for its improvement and involvement in Thailand’s seafood processing sector.
