Allegations have surfaced against Tesco and Intertek regarding harsh working conditions at a Thai garment factory.
- Burmese migrants reportedly worked up to 99 hours weekly for wages below Thailand’s legal limits.
- Employees face severe conditions, with inadequate breaks and substandard housing.
- Legal proceedings may advance to the High Court as Tesco and Intertek deny all allegations.
- A previous complaint in 2020 highlighted similar issues but was largely dismissed by Thai authorities.
In a developing legal case, Tesco and Intertek are facing serious allegations from Burmese migrant workers employed at an F&F fashion factory in Thailand. The workers accuse the companies of forcing them to endure oppressive conditions, including working up to 99 hours per week under illegal wage practices. These claims have been formally documented by over 130 current and former employees in a letter before action, marking the initial step toward potential legal proceedings.
The letter paints a grim picture of the working environment at the factory, where employees allegedly earn just £4 per day. This amount starkly contrasts with Thailand’s legal minimum wage, which should range from 328 to 354 baht per day, equating to roughly £8.59 to £9.27. Workers also face deductions from their already insufficient wages and report being housed in overcrowded and inadequate living conditions. Describing inhumane circumstances, employees recall living in bare dormitories with cement flooring and lacking essential privacy features like windows and walls.
Amidst these conditions, the pressure to meet production targets is highlighted as intense and overburdening. Employees are required to work long hours, often into the night, in unsafe environments lacking proper ventilation. The physical toll of such demands has led to personal injuries, with reports of at least one worker requiring hospitalisation for dehydration.
Denying liability, Tesco and Intertek have publicly refuted all allegations. Tesco’s legal representatives assert that, under Thai law, the company is not obligated to protect the claimants. Intertek, meanwhile, stands by the integrity of its audits, performed under industry-accepted standards and overseen by auditors pre-approved by Tesco. However, the persistent claims have prompted Leigh Day, a prominent UK law firm, to support the workers in their pursuit of justice. Should the situation remain unresolved, the case is expected to proceed to the High Court.
These allegations echo past complaints lodged with the Thai Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) in 2020. Workers, at the time, reported substantial losses in unpaid overtime, severance, and holiday pay, totalling approximately £765,000 over two years. Despite an audit conducted by Intertek, which led to the DPLW’s refusal to mandate comprehensive restitution, the issue of unpaid severance remained addressed.
The unfolding legal battle places Tesco and Intertek under significant scrutiny, spotlighting global labour practices.
