...Four Indonesian villagers who worked on fishing vessels in Bumble Bee Foods, LLC’s supply chain accused the seafood company of knowingly benefitting from forced labor in violation of the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. It is believed to be the first such forced labor at sea case brought against an American seafood company.

The men were lured by promises of good jobs that would support their families but life on board vessels in Bumble Bee’s supply chain was rife with abuse, according to filings. The villagers allege they endured violence daily, did not get enough to eat, and were denied medical care even when seriously injured and forced to keep working.

Trapped by predatory contracts, the men would owe insurmountably steep fines if they quit…According to the complaint, the wages they were promised shrank as funds were withheld to repay bogus fees, deductions and penalties….

…When Greenpeace USA emailed a link to one such report directly to Bumble Bee’s then-CEO Chris Lischewski, he replied, “As for the report on Taiwan, I have printed it but have not yet taken the time to read it. It is not high on my priority list.”…