From WALK FREE.ORG

“We were treated like slaves, all day and all night we had to work. I don’t want anyone else to have to face the same ordeal.” Nayto, Survivor

Just three weeks ago, 14 migrant workers escaped a chicken farm in the Lop Buri region of Thailand. Their reports of harsh treatment, exhaustive hours and despicable work conditions made instant headlines.[1]

But their struggle isn’t over – yet.

These workers are now safe, sheltered by our partner the Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN) in Thailand. However, with no means of support, they urgently need to rebuild their lives and find decent work. To do this they must receive the compensation due to them.

Call for these workers to be paid what they are owed.

These 14 workers told MWRN that while trapped in slavery, they were subjected to abusive supervisors, working hours that stretched through the day and night. With little to no time off, they endured terrible living conditions – sometimes forced to sleep alongside the hatchlings. On an isolated farm – with their passports confiscated so they were preventing from leaving – workers were only allowed out for a single two-hour supervised trip per week.

Sadly, the workers were not able to escape without consequences. One female worker was arrested for allegedly “stealing” her time-card to prove the exploitative conditions she and her colleagues were trapped in.[2]

Betagro is one of Thailand’s largest chicken exporters, supplying the global pet food and ready-made meal industries. As a recent buyer from this farm, it has the power to make sure these workers receive owed compensation.

Prominent anti-slavery activist, Andy Hall, has claimed that this case is only the “tip of the iceberg”.[3] In fact, since the high profile escape of these 14 workers, we’ve had reports of similar exploitation in six other chicken factories.

Email the CEO to demand Betagro eliminate exploitation in ALL its poultry supply chains.

In solidarity,

Zoe and the Walk Free team

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