Bangkok, Thailand - Over 200 private sector stakeholders gathered to discuss challenges and opportunities in implementing Human Rights Due Diligence (HRDD) practices that respect the rights of migrant workers to promote responsible recruitment in Thai supply chains, at the dialogue event jointly organized by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), AIM-Progress, and Quizrr, in collaboration with Mars, Nestlé, and Unilever.

Labour migration is the defining feature of our time, with its dynamics and impacts observed globally. Migrant workers are crucial to Thai supply chains across many sectors, including agriculture, construction, domestic work, electronics and manufacturing. Over three million registered migrant workers from neighbouring countries, predominantly from Cambodia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Myanmar, play a significant role in driving Thailand’s economic growth.

Despite this, migrant workers are often vulnerable to human rights violations, such as excessive recruitment fees, low wages and poor working conditions, putting them at a greater risk of labour exploitation, forced labour and trafficking. According to the 2022 Global Estimates of Modern Slavery Report, 86 per cent of forced labour cases are found in the private sector, with migrant workers three times more likely to be exploited than local workers. 

"In an era where consumers increasingly demand sustainably and ethically produced goods, businesses are expected not only to voice their commitment to uphold human rights but to follow through on those commitments," said Géraldine Ansart, Chief of Mission at IOM Thailand. "To meet these expectations in line with international standards, businesses must prioritize responsible recruitment in all their operations and supply chains."

With Thailand as a key regional hub for migrant workers - representing over 10 per cent of its labour force - the event brought together private sector stakeholders and their suppliers to discuss the pressing need for actionable practices to ensure responsible recruitment and how HRDD can be leveraged as a strategic opportunity by businesses to enhance operational resilience.

Building on IOM, AIM Progress and Quizrr’s partnership to equip Thai suppliers with tools and knowledge to integrate HRDD into their operations for identifying and mitigating risks, the event highlighted the critical role of ethical recruitment practices in addressing risks of forced labour and supporting compliance with emerging international regulations from the European Union Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive.

“As supply chains become more complex and face heightened regulatory scrutiny, businesses are increasingly exposed to reputational and compliance risks,” said Yael Fattal Lariccia, Global Project Manager at AIM Progress. “There is a growing need to ensure that human rights risks are understood and addressed by all suppliers amid an evolving legal and regulatory landscape on HRDD.”

Thailand’s proactive measures, including its National Action Plan on Business and Human Rights and mandatory corporate reporting requirements on social performance for listed companies, position it as an emerging leader in Asia for integrating HRDD into national and business practices. Stakeholders shared practical examples of implementing HRDD through collaborative efforts, emphasizing the importance of engaging with industrial partners, including suppliers and migrant workers to develop more inclusive and well-informed business practices to address labour migration challenges.

"At Mars, we believe it is our responsibility to create a working environment that is both safe and fair,” Rohit Jindal, General Manager at Mars Pet Nutrition Southeast Asia. “Mutuality is a core value for us to build ethical and fair supply chains. It’s not just about achieving results; it’s about how we achieve them. Through strong partnerships and shared accountability, our partners hold us to a higher standard, call us out if our words and actions don’t align and join us in finding innovative solutions.”

Building on this shared commitment, Unilever emphasizes the importance of collaborative partnerships as a cornerstone for implementing HRDD. “We recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to HRDD,” said Carola Galeppini, Senior Social Sustainability Manager at Unilever. “Our suppliers are valued partners, and we take responsibility for working collaboratively with them to navigate the complexities of HRDD. With transparency at the heart of our relationships, we seek feedback to identify areas for support and empower suppliers to scale up their practices.”

Leena Meneely, Sustainability and Human Rights Manager at TAT WIN, echoed this sentiment from a supplier’s perspective, highlighting that HRDD is a continuous process and a long-term commitment to improvement. “As a supplier, it is essential to approach HRDD not as a short-term goal, but as an ongoing commitment,” she explained. “With a mindset spanning three, five, or even ten years — and the willingness to start now and progress incrementally—suppliers can strengthen their HRDD practices over time. By testing, learning, and refining along the way, we can foster responsible business practices that uphold and respect the rights of workers, including migrant workers”.

Beyond individual brand-supplier relationships, cross-industrial collaboration is also essential to accelerating the adoption of HRDD. “Emerging regulations on HRDD are helping to level the playing field, allowing for greater collaboration among industry peers, even in jurisdictions where HRDD is not yet mandatory,” echoed Barbara Wettstein, Human Rights Manager, ESG Strategy and Deployment at Nestlé. “HRDD cannot be done alone. “To see meaningful impact, we need to collaborate with other industrial players to bring change at scale.”

The dialogue concluded with a call for collective action, urging businesses, policymakers and civil society to work together to advance ethical recruitment, respect human rights and drive sustainable economic growth in Thailand.

"The way forward lies in building resilient supply chains where the rights of migrant workers are respected," Ms Ansart added. "Implementing and integrating HRDD is not just a legal obligation but a strategic enabler for sustainable business growth."

This initiative is part of the AIM-Progress Supplier Capability Building Programme in Thailand, implemented by IOM’s Migration, Business and Human Rights in Asia Programme and Quizrr, with financial support from Mars, Nestlé and Unilever.

For more information, please contact Khai Yau Chua at kchua@iom.int or Jitradee Singhakowin at jsinghakowin@iom.int. For media inquiries, please contact Anushma Shrestha at anshrestha@iom.int.