30 September 2020

For the first time, the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) has included Taiwan-caught fish in its List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor. The List of Goods is widely considered one of the most authoritative sources on the state of forced labor and DOL’s findings influence the sourcing decisions and human rights plans of many American companies. [...] As consumers increasingly use DOL’s mobile apps and tools based on the list to inform their shopping decisions, tuna brands such as Bumble Bee will be affected by this.

The decision to add Taiwan to this “dirty list” follows years of investigations and reporting by Greenpeace and other organizations that prove systemic forced labor persists in the Taiwanese fishing industry despite incremental steps taken by the Taiwanese government and fishing industry. [...]

In response, Pearl Chen, Ocean Campaigner from Greenpeace East Asia said:

“[...] In addition to the government, FCF, a Taiwan-based seafood company and one of the world’s top three tuna traders, should take more responsibility for forced labor risks in its supply chain and be a leader by revamping its business so it fosters an ethical seafood industry that effectively prevents forced labor.”

Andy Shen, Senior Oceans Adviser at Greenpeace USA said:

“The Department of Labor’s decision to put Taiwan-caught fish on its List of Goods Produced by Forced Labor confirms what we have known for many years–the Taiwanese fishing industry is built on the backs of exploited migrant fishers. Major American retailers such as Walmart and Costco, and national tuna brands such as Bumble Bee, source from the Taiwanese fleet and must assure consumers they are not profiting from and perpetuating modern slavery on the high seas. They have a responsibility to use their economic power to change the Taiwanese government and industry’s human rights and environmental policies and practices, and help put an end to forced labor and the illegal fishing and overfishing that drives it. [...]"