News

Natural Fruit Co Ltd claimed that Andy Hall, a British citizen, had damaged its reputation with libellous statements about its relations with migrant workers.



Andy Hall is a prominent migrant and labour rights defender based in Thailand and Burma.



Andy Hall is accused of defaming and damaging the company by “broadcasting false statements to public media”, following the publication of a report in January 2013 which he co-authored and researched. If convicted, Andy Hall faces a fine of 300 million Baht (approx €7.7 million).



In addition, a criminal lawsuit was lodged against Andy Hall on the charge of broadcasting false statements based on a complaint filed by the Natural Fruit Company. If found guilty under these charges, the human rights defender could be imprisoned for a maximum of 2 years, with an additional fine of 200,000 Baht (approx €5,100).



UNI Apro is deeply concerned with the lawsuits filed and believes this legal action to be an attempt to silence yet another human rights defender in Thailand who, peacefully and legitimately, exercised the right to freedom of opinion and expression in order to defend and promote migrant a rights.A



ndy Hall's report entitled “Cheap has a high price: Responsibility problems relating to international private label products and food production in Thailand” was published in January 2013 by Finnwatch, a Finnish non-profit organisation that studies the responsibility of global business.



Based on testimonies taken in November 2012 from employees working in various departments of Natural Fruit Company Ltd.'s Pran Buri plant in Prachuap Khiri Khan province, the report found that the Natural Fruit Company had committed serious labour and human rights violations against its workers, in particular against migrant and irregular workers, as well as other reportedly illegal activities.



Despite being approached by Finnwatch and Andy Hall on numerous occasions, the Natural Fruit Company Ltd. did not agree to meet with the researchers to clarify the research findings.



According to the court's website, Natural Fruit claimed it "was damaged by (Andy Hall's) accusation that it violated human rights and labour rights by hiring workers under 15 years" of age, paid them wages below the minimum wage, and provided no holidays or bonus, all illegal acts.



"These reports and information have caused damage to the company, brought insults and hatred from the public, both inside the country and internationally," the suits alleged.



UNI Apro stands by Andy Hall’s methodological validity of his research for Finnwatch and believes Mr Hall's report to be solely motivated by his work as a prominent migrant rights activist in Thailand, in particular his role as researcher of the above report.



UNI demands that:



(1) Natural Fruit Company Limited should immediately drop malicious and aggressive civil and criminal law suits against Mr Hall.



(2) The Thai government should ensure an urgent 3rd party audit takes place at Natural Fruit premises and premises of the other factories under the Natground umbrella.



Join our campaign to drop charges against Andy Hall: CLICK HERE