(Kaohsiung, Taiwan) February 7th, 2024 – In a significant move toward advancing responsible recruitment practices in the seafood industry, FCF Co., Ltd. (FCF) played a pivotal role in supporting a workshop hosted by the Seafood Task Force (STF). The STF is a global trade association with goals including the elimination of forced labor and illegal fishing in tuna and shrimp seafood supply chains. It is assisting the industry to increase transparency, oversight and continuous improvement. This crucial workshop, conducted on January 23 and 24 at FCF’s headquarters in Kaohsiung, provided a platform for a diverse group of STF industry stakeholders, including retailers, tuna companies, and NGOs, to develop strategies for improving ethical recruitment practices. The event underscored FCF’s dedication to facilitating impactful discussions and initiatives within the industry.
During the event, FCF shared important findings from the first phase of its Responsible Recruitment Program, as outlined in their latest program report. This report laid a solid foundation for the workshop discussions, contributing significantly to the development of effective strategies for enhancing recruitment standards in the seafood industry.
Another highlight of the workshop was the insightful presentation by The FAIR Hiring Initiative (TFHI), a leading non-profit organization focused on fair labor practices. Their inputs provided a comprehensive examination of Responsible Recruitment Trends, covering a variety of topics such as the impacts of post-COVID trends, Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) legislation, updates on worker migration channels, and the approaches to responsible recruitment adopted by other industries.
The workshop’s goals aimed to foster collaboration among industry participants, offering an opportunity for stakeholders to unite in their efforts to improve recruitment practices, with a focus on fairness, transparency, and the protection of workers’ rights. Fundamentally, the workshop concentrated on identifying next steps and potential collaborative efforts to enact meaningful change within the industry.
Following the STF workshop on Responsible Recruitment, FCF and the team from Seafood Task Force including STF Member trading companies, processors, and brands met with the Taiwan Fishery Agency to explore opportunities for future collaboration.
FCF, in supporting the STF, is advocating for continued engagement and cooperation amongst all stakeholders in the seafood industry. This workshop represented a critical step toward a unified approach to responsible recruitment practices, establishing a new standard for industry practices.
