Thailand's Department of Labor Protection and Welfare (DLPW) and Charoen Pokphand Foods Public Company Limited (CP Foods) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to implement Good Labor Practices (GLP) principles in swine farms. This initiative aims to ensure best practices for labor management standards throughout CP Foods' swine supply chain, reinforcing the country's agricultural production in adherence to international standards.
Minister of Labor, Mr. Pipat Ratchakitprakarn, who presided over the MoU signing ceremony, emphasized the Ministry's ongoing efforts to promote best practices across all business sectors, including the swine industry, to enhance workers' quality of life. The initiative addresses critical issues such as child labor, forced labor, discrimination, and labor trafficking, thereby safeguarding labor and human rights. CP Foods, a leading Thai company, is recognized for actively promoting and adopting GLP principles throughout its supply chain, setting a model for other businesses to follow.
Mr. Prasit Boondoungprasert, CEO of CP Foods, highlighted the company's commitment to comprehensive labor management across all its business units, including farms and factories. This approach ensures strict compliance with both domestic labor laws and international standards. CP Foods aims to create high-value employment opportunities while enhancing workers' quality of life, simultaneously contributing to food security for society at large.
"These efforts align seamlessly with the company's 'Three Benefits' philosophy, which underpins our sustainable business model by focusing first on the interests of the country and its people, followed by the company's benefits," said CEO Prasit.
Under this agreement, all 106 CP Foods swine farms across Thailand are expected to obtain GLP certification within one year. Additionally, CP Foods will promote and transfer knowledge to approximately 4,000 small-scale swine farmers involved in its contract farming scheme nationwide, encouraging them to embrace GLP principles and ensure labor management complies with legal and international standards. This initiative aims to build consumer confidence that swine products come from a socially and globally responsible production chain.
Ms. Sopa Kiattrichai, Director-General of DLPW, stated that in 2023, the department collaborated with relevant organizations and swine industry associations to develop GLP principles tailored to enhance the competitiveness of swine farms in Thailand. These principles will serve as a foundation for improving employment and working conditions ethically while ensuring compliance with laws and regulations that uphold human rights in the livestock sector. The department is committed to facilitating GLP adoption by providing knowledge and technical support to entrepreneurs and farmers interested in implementing these practices on their farms.