Nordic food companies pursue new training solution on human rights for migrant workers in Thailand

Many migrant workers in Thailand live and work under harsh conditions. This reality has driven a collection of Nordic food companies to commission the ed-tech company QuizRR to develop a training solution on migrant workers’ rights. This Nordic Initiative is cooperatively run by Axfood, Axfoundation, Coop, CPF Denmark, ICA, Martin & Servera, Menigo, Norvida, S Group Finland, Unil Norway and QuizRR, and funded in part by Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovations Systems (Vinnova).

More than three million men and women have migrated to Thailand to work in the food sector, during a time when a multitude of international reports criticize the industry for instances of bad working conditions. Despite this, enormous quantities of fish, fruits and process foods are continually imported into Europe. Millions of migrant workers risk exploitation and exposure to discrimination and human trafficking.

There are number of tools that wholesalers and retailers use for securing decent working conditions. However, there is a need for more practical training tools for workers at the factory floor and tools that promote dialogue between workers and employers.

– This joint Nordic Initiative brings together a number of food companies for a common cause: more sustainable supply chains. Educating factory workers on their employment rights and responsibilities is a great complement to our ordinary inspections. We hope to see improved working conditions for many migrant workers in Thailand. Joint statement from Nordic Initiative partner companies.

The Initiative started in 2017, when a collection of leading Nordic food companies were in search of new solutions and approaches relevant for their supply chains in Thailand. QuizRR was engaged to conduct a pre-study regarding potential digital training tools on migrant workers’ rights and responsibilities, targeted to factory workers as well as middle and upper factory management. The Nordic Initiative for QuizRR Thailand is now moving into the next phase, covering the design, prototype and pilot testing of three prioritised modules: Recruitment & Hiring, Workplace Policies and Workplace Dialogue. The training modules will be based on short drama films, quiz questions and pedagogical exercises delivered on touchscreen tablets.

The Nordic Initiative is cooperatively run and overseen by Axfood, Axfoundation, Coop, CPF Denmark, ICA, Martin & Servera, Menigo, Norvida, S Group Finland, Unil Norway and QuizRR. And generously funded in part by generously funded in part by Swedish Governmental Agency for Innovations Systems (Vinnova). The new solution will be prepared for launch in September of 2018 and, for a short time, there is still the opportunity for interested companies to take advantage of the benefits of being a part of the Nordic Initiative.

– The initial launch will be prepared for 15 factories, although the training is scalable and has a potential to reach out to thousands of factory workers and managers, just as our current training solution in Bangladesh and China, says Sofie Nordström, deputy CEO at QuizRR.

More information
For more information or interview requests, please contact Sofia Nordström, founder at QuizRR, phone +46 705-390272.