Seafood allegedly produced using forced labor from Uyghur people in China may have been sold at Iceland and could be available at other British supermarkets, according to an investigation. Iceland stated that it no longer has a relationship with the Chinese supplier in question. Since 2018, the Chinese government has reportedly relocated tens of thousands of Uyghurs from Xinjiang to other parts of China as part of a “labor transfer program,” which human rights advocates argue constitutes forced labor. China has consistently denied these claims. An investigation by non-profit journalism organization The Outlaw Ocean Project revealed that nine seafood companies in Shandong, China, have employed over 2,000 Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities from Xinjiang, many of whom supply seafood to the UK. One of these companies is Shandong Meijia Group, one of China’s largest seafood processing companies. Sky News visited one of Meijia Group’s factories in Rizhao in 2021, uncovering evidence of Uyghur forced labor. The company removed an article from its website after receiving questions from Sky News. However, videos posted on Douyin, the Chinese equivalent of TikTok, show Uyghur workers as recently as October 2022 and May 2023 at Meijia Group plants. The Outlaw Ocean Project confirmed the location of these processing plants through extensive research and verification. Iceland, one of Meijia’s customers, stated that it has not received products from these sites for a significant period. Fastnet Fish, another distributor, terminated its relationship with Meijia following the investigation. Sainsbury’s, which receives seafood from Chishan Group, another Chinese conglomerate employing Uyghur workers, stated that it is working to understand the situation and take appropriate action. The Outlaw Ocean Project’s investigation also uncovered other abuses within China’s fishing fleet, including the case of Daniel Aritonang, an Indonesian worker who died after suffering abuse on a Chinese vessel. The Outlaw Ocean Project’s director highlighted various human rights and labor crimes associated with the fishing industry, such as human trafficking, wage theft, and neglect. Enforcement of these issues remains a challenge due to the lack of transparency and accountability in international waters. The investigation was conducted by The Outlaw Ocean Project in collaboration with The New Yorker and involved extensive reporting and research by a team of journalists.
