International workers found abused against human rights

Last updated on May 7th, 2021 at 07:17 am

British Grocery chain giant Tesco has found abuses against migrant workers at its Tesco-lotus stores and distribution centres in Thailand and Malaysia. Tesco based the allegations on interviews with 187 migrant workers in Thailand and 168 workers in Malaysia.

The abuse of migrant workers included passport retention; unexplained and illegal wage reductions; heavy indebtedness to labour brokers; and excessive overtime work. In Malaysia, the passports of 68 Indonesian and 171 Nepali workers were withheld. While 15 passports and up to 30 work permits were withheld by a supplier in Thailand. “All passports were returned to workers and new policies and procedures introduced for when passports are required for work permit renewal or other government purposes,” Tesco said in the undated document.

Tesco-Lotus also found that levels of indebtedness to service or labour providers were higher in Malaysia. The firm has developed a plan to look further into the situation. Including detailed investigations of specific allegations; setting up support lines and grievance mechanisms; ensuring workers have access to passports whenever needed. Tesco-lotus will also train managers on diversity and inclusion; review and improve accommodation and worker welfare audits; provide full remediation; including the repayment of recruitment fees; and shift to recruit migrant workers directly as a preference.

Tesco commissioned an independent human rights consultancy, Impact, in September last year. Above all to conduct an assessment of migrant workers’ rights in stores and distribution centres in both countries. Tesco-Lotus also receives intelligence internally and from suppliers.