This article was originally published on Prachatai.
The District Court of Lapland has sentenced the CEO of a Finnish berry company to prison over 62 human trafficking cases involving Thai berry pickers. The workers have long sought justice and advocated for fair treatment and accountability from both berry companies and the Thai authorities.
Vernu Vasunta, CEO of Finnish berry company Kiantama, was sentenced to three years and six months over 62 human trafficking cases. He was also banned from doing business until spring 2029, according to Matichon and Finland’s Yle.
In addition, the Court also sentenced his Thai associate, Kalyakorn Phongphit, to prison on the same charges. The defendants and the company were ordered to pay compensation of 22.5 million Thai baht to their Thai berry picker victims.
According to the Court, in 2022, Thai workers were recruited to pick berries in Finland. They were lured with promises of satisfactory wages and good treatment during their time in Finland. However, when they arrived, they were subjected to unpleasant working conditions similar to forced labour.
The pickers were forced to pick around 2,400-4,000 kilograms during their 10 weeks in the country. Notably, they were paid only a few hundred euros after employers deducted travel, food, fuel, and vehicle costs.
The verdict also stated that the employer confiscated the workers’ passports. Several Thai workers had to sign a debt contract before travelling to Finland, leaving them in debt to the company from the start. As a result, the Thai berry pickers had no choice but to continue working under these conditions.
The plight of the Thai berry pickers has long been in the public’s attention. Around 100,000 Thai farmers have been brought to Finland and Sweden by 13 berry companies since 2005, hoping to improve their quality of life upon returning home.
Several people came home empty-handed or in debt. Some have gone bankrupt. They started to recount their experience and called for accountability from both the berry companies and the Thai authorities, prompting an investigation.
In 2022, the Finnish Supreme Court sentenced one berry company owner to one year and 10 months in prison in connection with Thai berry pickers. This case was considered the first human trafficking case against a berry purchaser. Last year, Finland also began requiring formal employment contracts and wages for migrant workers.
On 6 September, MP Sahassawat Kumkong of the People’s Party called on Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul to reconsider his decision regarding the appointment of the Cabinet members. Earlier this year, Sahassawat raised a censure debate against former Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin, citing documents from Finland and the Thai Department of Special Investigation.
The documents indicate that former high-ranking officials and a former Labour Minister were involved in the human trafficking network. They allegedly accepted bribes to facilitate the sending of Thai workers into forced labour in Finland and Sweden.
According to several Thai news outlets, PM Anutin unveiled his Cabinet lineup, including Suchart’s name. If nothing changes, he is poised to become the Natural Resources and Environment Minister.