Wholesale retailer giant Costco has been accused of using a company in Thailand that uses forced labor, by allegedly selling farmed shrimp whilst being in full knowledge that the fisherman involved may have been subject to torture and even murder, reports CBS News.
The lawsuit was filed last Wednesday in a San Francisco federal court. The suit cites California state laws that mean corporations must not make false claims regarding illegal behavior in the supply chain.
Image Credit: Mike Mozart (Flickr)
Co-counsel in the case, Derek Howard told CBS MoneyWatch the case was important for the “education of consumers to make sure they are not being served slavery on a dinner plate.”
Niall McCarthy, of Cotchette, Pitre & McCarthy, said in a statement: “Human suffering cannot be ignored to enhance a company’s economic bottom line […] California consumers are unknowingly supporting slave labor.”
Thai labor lawyers Chaninat and Leeds are experts in employment law in Thailand.
The trafficked labor takes place on boats known as “ghost ships” and is also known as “pirate fishing.” Costco deny knowledge of their connection to illegal activity. Spokesman Bob Nelson said:
“Costco Wholesale has been working with and will continue to work with various stakeholders (including the Thai government, other retailers, and Thai industry) to address the issues that have surfaced. In the meantime, all of our customers know that if they are dissatisfied with any purchase from Costco Wholesale they can return the item for a full refund.”
Earlier this month reports emerged expressing concern over the state of Thai fishing laws, after they received a yellow card from European Union inspectors.
Thailand is the third-largest exporter of seafood in the world, with yearly sales estimated at $7.3 billion a year. According to the lawyers for the plaintiff, the Thai fishing industry involves more than 650,000 people, many of whom are migrants who enter Thailand looking for work or who are taken there against their will for the purpose of forced labor.
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