Nestlé​ SA is among the biggest food companies in the world and it is slowly taking steps to ensure that its work force is fair and legal. An unusual disclosure indeed, the Geneva-based company released the conclusions from an internal year-based study on Monday through an act of self-policing.

But Nestlé​ SA is not alone.

The study found that impoverished migrant workers in Thailand, originally from the country’s neighbours, Myanmar and Cambodia, are being lured or sold by false promises. They are then forced to catch and process fish that ends up in virtually all U.S and European companies who buy seafood from Thailand.

The report began this time last year when major news outlets tied the brutal and largely unregulated working condition to Nestlé​ SA’s shrimp, prawn and Purina brand pet foods. Since then, more than 2 000 fishermen have been saved.

Sometimes, the net is too heavy and workers get pulled into the water and just disappear. When someone dies, he gets thrown into the water

I have been working on this boat for 10 years. I have no savings. I am barely surviving. Life is very difficult here.

Nestlé​ SA aims to post its reports online paired with a detailed strategy that aims to protect its workers by imposing new requirements on all potential suppliers, as well as train boat owners and captains about human rights. The company also plans to bring in auditors and assign high-level Nestlé​ managers to make sure change is underway.

As we’ve said consistently, forced labour and human rights abuses have no place in our supply chain. Nestlé believes that by working with suppliers we can make a positive difference to the sourcing of ingredients.

Nestlé​ promises to publicly report its progress each year.

[source: cbc]