STF Updates on Responsible Recruitment - Aug '24
Under the Leadership of Khun Supavadee (Pink) Chotikajan from Mars Petcare and the STF Responsible Recruitment Sub Group, we continue to make significant progress in our mission to ensure ethical recruitment practices throughout the seafood supply chain. We recognise the complex challenges faced by our industry, particularly in tracking and protecting vessel workers at the end of the supply chain and have implemented a comprehensive approach to address these issues.
About a year ago, we formed a dedicated subgroup to boost our efforts. This group has been tasked with revamping our work plan, focusing on three key beneficiary groups: STF members, employers recruiting migrant workers, and recruitment agencies. This targeted approach aims to create a more robust and effective system for responsible recruitment.
For our STF members, we've set an ambitious goal since 2019: from April of this year all members are expected to be verified against an agreed set of standards on recruitment fees and related costs. To facilitate this process, we've engaged external expertise. Following a comprehensive Request for Proposal process, we've hired a consultant to develop a thorough assessment protocol, ensuring that members can be effectively evaluated against our established guidelines.
Recognising the rapidly evolving landscape of international standards and legislation, we are working with the selected consultant to commission a benchmarking study. This initiative aims to compare our current STF standards with emerging global norms and legislation, identifying any gaps and areas for improvement. Additionally, we're conducting desktop research into the average costs incurred by workers during the recruitment process across various scenarios, from different countries of origin to specific roles within our industry.
In addressing the crucial role of recruitment agencies, we've adopted a two-pronged approach to continue to nominate interested recruitment agencies for “On the Level” certification. As it has proven that certification programmes are challenging to scale, we've also developed the more accessible "STF Stepping Stone Program" for recruitment agencies. This innovative approach involves creating online interactive learning modules that allow agencies to engage with the material at their own pace. The modules cover essential topics such as the definition and responsibilities of recruitment agencies, child labour prevention, and other key ethical recruitment practices.
While the development of these modules is still ongoing, we're committed to making them as user-friendly and engaging by refining complex topics to a more interactive and easily digestible formats.
It's important to note that progress in this complex field has been slower than we initially anticipated. However, we're encouraged by the strong alignment among various stakeholders, including major industry players, all of whom recognise the critical importance of these initiatives.
The challenges we face are significant. Tracking workers on vessels and throughout the intricate supply chain remains a formidable task. However, we remain dedicated to our mission, understanding that even incremental progress can lead to substantial improvements in the lives of workers and the integrity of the seafood industry.