According to the report, published through KnowTheChain, the “four largest meat corporations in the world” “are not taking the fundamental steps” to their home chain staff.
KnowTheChain: a partnership between Humanity United, Business
In its latest reference report, which assessed the world’s 43 largest food and beverage corporations, KnowTheChain said it had revealed “failures” within those corporations that increase the threat of miserable situations and COVID-19 epidemics observed in the meat industry this year. . .
Specifically, KnowTheChain ranked the 43 food and beverage specialties that oppose the core criteria of the International Labour Organization: reviewing its policies and procedures for combating forced labour in the chain.
Companies received a 100-degree rating compared to 21 signs spread over seven topics, covering spaces such as the extent to which companies’ purchasing practices fostered smart-running practices among suppliers and their efforts to ensure that supply chain personnel were not exploited in the procurement process.
According to KnowTheChain, the “4 big meat companies” misbehaved, and “the JBS and Tyson technique has deteriorated in recent years. “
While the overall average score was 28/100, JBS and Hormel scored 12/100, Tyson scored 9/100 and WH Group got only 1/100.
The report states that none of the “big four” meat processors revealed a procedure for assessing the threat of forced labour from new suppliers before entering into contracts with them; none reported a procedure to respond to allegations of forced labour against their suppliers; and none reported that they support suppliers in their purchasing practices, such as making quick payments, forecasting or taking into account labor prices when adopting internships.
In addition, KnowTheChain stated that the four corporations had not disclosed data on who in the company was guilty of implementing hard work policies in the chain of sources, and none stated that they were committed to the unions of workers in the chain of sources, nor did they make any effort for freedom. disposition in their source chains.
Tesco scored highest in the rating (65/100), followed by Unilever (60/100), who, according to KnowTheChain, had accelerated bills to small suppliers during the pandemic and collaborated with workers’ unions in the chain of origin.
Commenting on its “Big Four” ranking, Felicitas Weber, Assignment Manager at KnowTheChain, said: “This is not just an ethical case. From a business perspective, investors are aware that protecting other people will protect profits. long-term”.
According to Weber, KnowTheChain in the past “reported those flaws. “”Now, with what’s at stake because of the pandemic, the industry’s heavyweights seem to be worse, not better. This would possibly leave staff unpaid when they are not. “sick, without protective devices good enough and without means to fight for their rights”.
FoodNavigator contacted Hormel Foods, JBS, Tyson, and WH Group for their views on the report. Responses were obtained from Hormel, JBS and Tyson.
JBS is under pressure that its goal is to forge partnerships only with suppliers that focus their values and project “a more sustainable food source. “”In 2016, we set a font chain target for 2020 that requires all of our suppliers to comply with our code of conduct providers,” said Cameron Bruett, JBS USA’s commercial director at the publication.
Hormel, which owns a wide diversity of meat brands that add Spam Hormel Deli Meats, also owns a few outdoor brands in the meat category, such as Skippy and Happy Little Plants.
In reaction to KnowTheChain’s report, the company warned that making its internal policies more public in the long run can produce other results. “Ensuring human rights in our chain of sources is incredibly vital to us, and we are committed to continually advancing our efforts.
“Because reference reports are based solely on publicly available data, we are committed to sharing more data about our policies and efforts in this domain in the long run and are confident that this will improve our rating. “
Contrary to the implications of the KnowTheChain report, the Tyson meat processor told FoodNavigator that the fitness and protection of its staff are its “top priority. “”We have implemented a multitude of protective measures in our facilities that meet or exceed CDC and OSHA rules to prevent COVID-19,” we were told.
The company has taken large-scale steps to protect its services from imaginable outbreaks. Tyson has “transformed” its sites with “protective measures,” conducts “health and wellness tests” for all team members each time they are displayed for paints, and has purchased more than 15 infrared temperature scanners to help detect symptoms of disease.
“Tyson Foods organized factory visits with government leaders and representatives of the CDC and the League of Latin American Citizens (LULAC). . . so they can see the measures the company has implemented. LULAC stated that Tyson Foods had “made significant progress. “”
More promotional features