Fishers Accuse Bumble Bee of Forced Labor

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Four Indonesian fishermen have sued Bumble Bee Foods for alleged forced labor and human trafficking in its tuna supply chain.

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Fishers report brutal conditions: physical violence, untreated injuries exposing bone, and being trapped at sea against their will.

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The lawsuit uses the Trafficking Victims Protection Reauthorization Act, letting victims sue U.S. companies profiting from forced labor.

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At least 128,000 fishers globally face forced labor, creating a cycle where dwindling fish stocks push boats further out, enabling abuse.

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Bumble Bee controls 25% of U.S. canned tuna market with $1 billion annual revenue, while workers were promised $400-600 monthly but often paid less or nothing.

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Plaintiffs seek compensation and reforms: limiting sea time to three months, providing WiFi, ensuring observer coverage, and establishing union rights.

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The time to put an end to these atrocities is now," said Arifsyah Nasution of Greenpeace Southeast Asia, while Bumble Bee remains silent on the litigation.

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