Burmese workers to sue Tesco over working conditions at Thai clothing factory

Tesco is being sued by 130 migrant workers from Myanmar for making them work up to 99 hours a week on unlawful wages and in forced labor conditions at the V.K Garments factory in Mae Sot, Thailand, between 2017 and 2020.

The Thai factory makes clothes for the group’s F&F range.

According to Law firm Leigh Day, the group of migrant workers is suing Tesco, the former Tesco-owned Ek-Chai Distribution System Company Limited, and auditing firms Intertek Group and Intertek Testing Services (Thailand) Limited.

Tesco sold its businesses in Thailand and Malaysia to Dhanin Chearavanont’s CP Group for $10.6 billion in December 2020 and was not involved in the running of the factory.

Tesco and Ek-Chai are accused of negligence “for permitting, facilitating and/or failing to prevent the unlawful working and housing conditions which caused the workers injuries and losses,” said Leigh Day.

The workers also said that the two firms were unjustly enriched at their expense.

Meanwhile, Intertek is said to be negligent “for failing to identify and/or report the unlawful working and housing conditions, causing injury to the workers.”

Leigh Day said the workers may bring the matter to the High Court if Tesco and Intertek fail to settle the claims.

According to a Tesco spokesperson, had they identified the issues at the time they took place, Tesco would have immediately ended its relationship with this supplier.

The Tesco spokesperson urged the supplier to reimburse employees for any wages they are owed.