Ethics Assignment

CASE ANALYSIS:

ASSIGNMENT #2

Natural Fruit Company and Migrant Workers

Rights

Gurvir Kaler

Student #: 213561766

Professor Brian Walsh

11/19/2014

Step 1: Main Features of the Case

Natural Fruit Company is a Thai fruit wholesaler who specializes in manufacturing,

distributing and supplying mostly pineapple canned fruit concentrates and cocktail products to

various European businesses. In 2013 and 2014 Natural Fruit Company has attracted negative

publicity for its attempt to sue a human rights activist Andy Hall from Finnwatch. In 2013, Andy

researched and wrote a report published by Finnwatch that claimed Natural Fruit Company of

abusing many of Thailand’s labour laws. The report alleged the company of many labour abuses and

forced child labour on its migrant workers who come from countries such as Cambodia, Laos and

Myanmar. These workers were not being paid minimum wage, had salary deductions, confiscation of

their passports and were forced to work overtime hours. After this report was released, Natural Fruit

Company denied the accusations and sued Andy $10 million USD for charges of criminal

defamation. Also, British Newspaper, The Independent states that, “the Thailand government had

been continuously defending the rights of the company to pursue Andy through its courts because

Natural Fruit Company’s factory is owned by the elder brother of a former labour minister in the

Thai government.” (The Independent). According to BBC Watchdog, “on October 29, 2014, a court

in Prakanong dismissed the defamation case concerning the interview that Andy gave to Al-Jazeera

about the company’s alleged worker rights abuses.” (BBC Watchdog). Natural Fruit Company

appealed the court’s decision and Andy still faces other charges of Thailand defamation and

violating the Computer Crime Act. Many European companies, trade unions and NGOs have called

for the charges against Andy to be dropped as he could face up to 7 years in prison. Andy’s

preliminary...