Tesco accused of making low-wage workers clock 99-hour weeks at Thai factory

Law firm Leigh Day said 130 migrant workers are bringing a legal claim against Tesco, Ek-Chai Distribution System Company and two auditing companies

The workers alleged they were made to work up to 99 hours a week on unlawful wages, in forced labour conditions at the Mae Sot factory in 2017-2020

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Published: 8:24pm, 20 Dec 2022

Britain’s biggest retailer Tesco is facing legal action from a group of migrant workers from Myanmar, alleging dire working conditions at a Thai factory which made clothes for the group’s F&F range.

Law firm Leigh Day said 130 migrant workers are bringing a legal claim against Tesco, Ek-Chai Distribution System Company Limited, which was owned by Tesco until 2020, and auditing companies Intertek Group and Intertek Testing Services (Thailand) Limited.

The migrants allege they were made to work up to 99 hours a week on unlawful wages and in forced labour conditions at the VK Garments factory in Mae Sot between 2017 and 2020, Leigh Day said.

The allegations were first reported by the Guardian newspaper.

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

However, 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.

They are also accused of being “unjustly enriched” at the expense of the workers, it said.

A view of empty shelves at a Tesco supermarket in Manchester, England. Photo: AP