Respect human rights
In its global human rights policy, Trident Seafoods pledges to treat all employees, suppliers, and partners with dignity and respect, but lacks a publicly approved statement explicitly committing to human rights. While it has policies that commit to specific workers’ rights, the company misses the opportunity to align these with all the ILO core labour rights, both for its own operations and suppliers. The company could improve by detailing how it identifies and assesses human rights risks in specific locations or activities, including those in its supply chain. Additionally, it could be more transparent by disclosing the results of its human rights risk assessments and establishing a global system to address, prevent, or mitigate its most pressing human rights concerns.
Provide and promote decent work
While Trident Seafoods maintains health and safety standards, it could disclose specific methods for monitoring the health and safety performance of its suppliers. On the issue of wages, although it pays the minimum wage, the company has room to commit to paying a living wage by establishing a time-bound target and outlining how it calculates living wages in different regions. Additionally, it could disclose strategies for ensuring its suppliers also pay a living wage. Regarding gender equality and women’s empowerment, the company could make a public commitment and set time-bound targets, including achieving a representation of at least 30% women in its highest governing body. Lastly, the company could provide more transparency by disclosing the gender pay gap across different employee categories and locations.
Act ethically
Trident Seafoods has the opportunity to detail the process it uses to identify bribery and corruption risks in specific operational areas or activities. Also, the company has the opportunity to formalize anti-bribery and anti-corruption clauses in its contracts with business partners. While it has some mechanisms for stakeholders to raise concerns about bribery and corruption, it hasn’t disclosed whether these can be done without fear of reprisal. The company could formalize its approach to lobbying and political engagement in a public policy, and specifically indicate whether it refrains from making political contributions. Additionally, it could disclose its expenditures related to lobbying and specify that third-party lobbyists must comply with its policy on lobbying and political engagement.