Thailand - IOM has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with global accounting firm Grant Thornton, focusing on bringing together the best of both organizations to assist migrant labourers across Southeast Asia.

The MOU will enable research on ethical recruitment and working conditions of migrant labourers in the region. The two organizations will also draft a business case for ethical trading, recruitment and management of migrant labour with a special focus on South East Asia and extended supply chains.

Under the MoU, IOM and Grant Thornton intend to work with local and international companies on the issues of ethical trading, recruitment and management of migrant labour through field testing, validation, certification and on-going “organic” management of the company’s migrant labour practices

David Knight, IOM’s Regional Coordinator for Viet Nam, Cambodia and Lao PDR said: “Consumers are a huge factor in IOM’s mission, especially given the interconnected nature of business in the modern world. We are keen to get started on this project, which will hopefully reassure consumers that the products they are purchasing come from companies with ethical migrant labour and supply chains.  Our partnership with Grant Thornton will look to promote human rights standards, ethical recruitment practices and employment conditions for these migrants.”

Ian Pascoe, Grant Thornton’s CEO in Thailand said: “We are very excited to be working with IOM. The unique combination of IOM’s significant experience in this area and Grant Thornton’s Assurance and Advisory skills and extensive commercial relationships will ultimately directly benefit those that need it most – the migrant labourers themselves, at a time when there is clearly a need to protect the most, those that have the least.”

For more information, please contact Suriya Samritchindakun at Grant Thornton in Thailand, Email: suriya.samritchindakun@th.gt.com, Tel +66.22058142. Or Joe Lowry at the IOM Regional Office for Asia and the Pacific in Bangkok, Email: jlowry@iom.int, Tel +66.818708081.