USAID Private Sector Engagement Exposure Page Features “Thailand: Mars Petcare Partnership Gives Voice to Vulnerable Seafood Workers”

The USAID Thailand Counter Trafficking in Persons (CTIP) activity’s innovative partnership with Mars Petcare to protect the rights of people working in Thailand’s seafood industry was featured on USAID’s Private Sector Engagement Exposure page, posted April 30, 2021.

“Thailand: Mars Petcare Partnership Gives Voice to Vulnerable Seafood Workers” describes how Mars Petcare, a global leader in pet nutrition products, has teamed up with USAID, local non-governmental organizations and businesses to amplify vulnerable workers’ voices through mobile technology that allows them to communicate while at sea.

Thailand’s fishing industry is particularly vulnerable to human rights abuses such as forced labor. Fishers may be at sea for weeks without access to communication to report issues or seek assistance. Public reports have documented debt bondage, withholding of documents and wages, and dangerous working conditions. The USAID and Mars Petcare partnership aims to advance respect for human rights across the global seafood supply chain with an initial focus on labor risks in the Thai fishing industry.

“The Countering Trafficking in Persons program’s communication at sea application marks a significant partnership with the private sector through innovative technology at an affordable cost, with the goal of protecting the most vulnerable populations, especially migrants and fishers at sea,” said Steven G. Olive, USAID Regional Development Mission for Asia’s Mission Director.