Latest news with #AgnieszkaFryszman
South China Morning Post
27-03-2025
- South China Morning Post
Indonesian fishermen sue US food giant Bumble Bee Seafoods in landmark forced labour case
A landmark human trafficking lawsuit filed by four Indonesian fishermen against US canned seafood giant Bumble Bee Seafoods could open the door for more victims of forced labour to sue well-resourced companies that profit from their exploitation at sea, rights groups said. Advertisement In the lawsuit, filed on March 12 in California, the plaintiffs alleged forced labour and abuse on board Chinese-owned longline vessels in Bumble Bee's supply chain. The complaint detailed abuses such as withheld wages, physical mistreatment, long working hours, debt bondage, and threats to their families. It is believed to be the first case of forced labour at sea brought against an American seafood company. 'Trafficking at sea happens because it's profitable, perpetrators can avoid getting caught because the victims are isolated from law enforcement and there are so many jurisdictional hurdles to effective enforcement,' Agnieszka Fryszman, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, told This Week in Asia, adding that once onshore, fishers often lack access to legal support in other countries. 'Merely arresting the low level actors will not put a stop to forced labour.' Advertisement
USA Today
25-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
'They were trapped': Bumble Bee 'benefitted' from forced labor, lawsuit alleges
'They were trapped': Bumble Bee 'benefitted' from forced labor, lawsuit alleges Show Caption Hide Caption Canned tuna recall due to risk of botulism, big name grocery stores involved Tri-Union Seafoods of California is recalling tuna cans that were sold in Trader Joe's and Costco, among other locations, due to the risk of botulism. Straight Arrow News Bumble Bee Foods is facing allegations that it "knowingly benefitted" from forced labor and other abuses in its supply chain, according to a lawsuit filed in federal court in California. Four Indonesian fishers allege that they faced similar patterns of abuse on three different boats that supplied Bumble Bee, including physical abuse, long stretches of work without rest days and denial of medical care. "These men were looking for good jobs so they could provide for their families and build a future," Agnieszka Fryszman, a lawyer for the plaintiffs said in a press release accompanying the March 12 filing. "Instead, they allege, they were trapped – isolated at sea, beaten with metal hooks, not getting enough food, working around the clock – and facing financial penalties if they tried to leave." Lawyers for the plaintiffs said that they believe the suit is the first forced labor at sea case against an American company under the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. Bumble Bee holds the largest market share of canned and pouched tuna, according to the Seafood Stewardship Index and was purchased by Taiwanese fish conglomerate FCF Co. Ltd. for $925 million following a bankruptcy in 2019. The company declined comment on the litigation Monday. What does the lawsuit allege? Muhammad Sahrudin, one of the plaintiffs, said that conditions on the boat he worked on were "harsh." "The captain would slap the crewmen with his hand, hit them about the head, and, worse, stab themwith a needle," the filing states. "One time, the captain chased him with the needle, while Sahrudin begged to be spared." Muhammad Syafi'i, a separate plaintiff, alleged among other abuses that he was severely burned by hot cooking oil while onboard a fishing vessel. "He screamed in pain, but when the crew rushed to see what had happened, the captain told them to leave him be and to get back to work. Syafi'i was left lying on the kitchen bench, alone," the complaint states. The plaintiffs allege that they were unable to leave the ships they were working on and routinely denied medical treatment. The men allege that once at sea, the ships would not sail back to port, transferring catches to cargo ships. The complaint states that the ships the four plaintiffs worked on were a part of the "trusted network of boat owners" that supplied Bumble Bee. "Bumble Bee knowingly received or attempted to receive financial and other benefit from the sale of tuna harvested with forced labor, including profits from those sales and access to a steady supply of tuna from its trusted fleet," the complaint alleges. Fryzman said in the press release that her clients are seeking a result that would prevent further abuse. "Our clients are seeking justice not only for themselves but to implement changes that will protect other fishers, including men at sea right now on the same boats," Fryman said.
Yahoo
24-03-2025
- Yahoo
This Popular Canned Tuna Brand Is Getting Sued For A Truly Sickening Reason
Bumble Bee Foods, known for being one of the leading brands for canned tuna, is being sued for allegedly benefitting from forced labor and other forms of abuse onboard fishing vessels from which the company sources its tuna. The lawsuit was filed on March 12 by four Indonesian men, who worked on three vessels supplying tuna for Bumble Bee Foods. The lawsuit claims that, while out at sea, the men were physically abused and kept onboard against their will. The abuse alleged included being denied medical care after serious injuries and being denied food and water. The men also assert that the working conditions were overall dangerous. Agnieszka Fryszman, one of the attorneys for the plaintiffs, spoke to CNN about the alleged abuse suffered by the fishermen. Fryszman said, "Fishing vessels never really have to go port, so the men are really, really stuck. It makes it very easy to engage in forced labor and trafficking." Bumble Bee Foods provided a statement to CNN, in which it stated that it will not be commenting on the lawsuit. Read more: 14 Cheap Fish You Should Always Avoid Buying Since the lawsuit asserts that Bumble Bee Foods imported seafood that was caught using forced labor, it implies that the company violated U.S. human trafficking laws. The men are claiming that they were kept at sea for months at a time with no way to leave. Two of the complainants also allege being forced to continue working after suffering serious injuries. Furthermore, they claim that Bumble Bee Foods engaged in debt bondage, which would mean that large portions of their salaries were withheld. This would have left the workers with very little pay and, beyond that, they were supposedly threatened with hefty fees if they decided to quit. Additionally, the men allege that they were physically abused by ship captains, including stabbing with needles, beating, and lashing. The complaint outlines that the fisherman are not only looking for monetary damages but also want to see new workplace safety policies established. As if the pending lawsuit weren't reason enough to reconsider eating Bumble Bee Foods tuna, its solid white albacore tuna in olive oil is on our list of some of the unhealthiest store-bought canned tunas that you can buy. Bumble Bee is far from the only company to face allegations of mistreating workers -- for example, Cracker Barrel has faced several scandals, including alleged sexual harassment faced by workers. Plus, one of the things that Olive Garden doesn't want you to know is that it faced payment discrimination claims. Hungry for more? Sign up for the free Daily Meal newsletter for delicious recipes, cooking tips, kitchen hacks, and more, delivered straight to your inbox. Read the original article on The Daily Meal.
Los Angeles Times
13-03-2025
- Business
- Los Angeles Times
Indonesian fishermen sue Bumble Bee and say the canned tuna giant knew of abuse in its supply chain
SAN DIEGO — Lawyers representing four Indonesian fishermen who say they were beaten and trapped on vessels that were part of the global supply chain that provided tuna to Bumble Bee Seafoods filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the canned seafood giant. It is believed to be the first such case of forced labor at sea brought against a U.S. seafood company, the men's lawyer, Agnieszka Fryszman, said. U.S. companies that benefit from forced labor and undercut other businesses need to be held accountable, Fryszman said. 'What you see is really devastating,' she said. The lawsuit accuses the company headquartered in San Diego of violating the Trafficking Victims Protection Act. The law allows foreigners who suffered from human trafficking to sue U.S. businesses that knew or should have known that they were profiting from forced labor. Bumble Bee said in an email to The Associated Press that it does not comment on pending litigation. The fisherman are all from villages in Indonesia and worked for longline vessels owned by Chinese companies from which Bumble Bee sourced its albacore tuna, according to the lawsuit. They say they were beaten regularly by their captains. One fisherman named Akhmad, who like many Indonesians uses only one name, said he was hit by a metal hook and forced to work even after being injured on the job by a load of fish that gashed open his leg to the bone. Another fisherman, Syafi'i, said he received no medical care for severe burns and was ordered to return to work to pay to eat. All the men said they asked to go home and even tried to go on strike on board, according to the lawsuit. The boats stayed out at sea while supply ships provided provisions and collected the catch. The men were strapped with debt from food bills and other fees and the threat of fines if they quit, Fryszman said. Bumble Bee had been warned of inhumane conditions in its supply chain over the years, Fryszman said. In 2020, accounts of abusive conditions and forced labor prompted the U.S. to halt imports from a Taiwan-based fishing vessel that reportedly supplied the global tuna trading company that acquired Bumble Bee Seafoods that same year. None of these fishermen worked on that vessel. The lawsuit seeks compensation for their unpaid wages and abuse, Fryszman said. The men are also seeking systemic changes, she said. For example, they want companies like Bumble Bee to require in their contracts that the vessels in their supply chain bring in their catch rather than remain out at sea, and have medical care on board and Wi-Fi service for workers to get help. The global fishing industry has been plagued by labor abuses for years. Congress approved legislation providing the U.S. government with additional authority to crack down on forced labor in 2016 after an Associated Press investigation found that seafood caught by slaves in Southeast Asia was ending up in restaurants and markets around the United States. In 2018, Fryszman represented two Indonesian fishermen who said they were enslaved on an American fishing boat. They settled their lawsuit for an undisclosed amount against the vessel's California-based owner seven years after escaping and receiving special U.S. visas as victims of human trafficking. Watson writes for the Associated Press.
Washington Post
12-03-2025
- Business
- Washington Post
Indonesian fishermen sue Bumble Bee and say the canned tuna giant knew of abuse in its supply chain
SAN DIEGO — Lawyers representing four Indonesian fishermen who say they were beaten and trapped on vessels that were part of the global supply chain that provided tuna to Bumble Bee Seafoods filed a lawsuit Wednesday against the canned seafood giant. It is believed to be the first such case of forced labor at sea brought against a U.S. seafood company, the men's lawyer, Agnieszka Fryszman, said.
