Some workers reported that their brokers were known to use violence against individuals
who complain about poor conditions. Migrant workers in all factories stated
that the translators hired by their employer provided poor translation and generally
bad support. They often used intimidation and spoke badly to the workers. Interviewees
at Centaco/Sky Food also expressed that they felt unsafe to move around the
factories, with risks of violent robberies especially early in the morning or late in the
evening.
Workers at the factories owned by Centaco/Sky Food, Laemthong and Saha Farms/
Golden Line reported that supervisors used violence, hitting their hands and
slapping workers around their face and head, to make them work faster and harder or
if a worker was found by the supervisor committing an error.
According to the management of Saha Farms/Golden Line, these reports will be
investigated and any supervisors found guilty of such behavior will be punished.
Centaco/Sky Food states that one abusive supervisor has been “identified and
disciplined”.
During official audits by authorities or buyers the supervisors spoke kinder and gentler
to the workers. Statements from employees at three factories declared that the
factory management made extra attempts to cover up any sort of problems ahead of
worker audits, and workers were rarely spoken to by the auditers.