Correspondence
Email sent to the contact address for Continente.
The email said: "We’re contacting you in light of our latest investigation which concerns the use of forced labor in China’s seafood processing industry, specifically North Korean workers in Chinese plants.
We have investigators on the ground in China who have been engaging with labor brokers directly involved with the transfer of North Korean workers to factories in China. Through this and other investigative means, including collecting online footage from the plants and interviews with workers recently returned to North Korea from China, we’ve found large numbers of North Korean workers at a range of seafood processing plants in Liaoning province, on China’s border with North Korea.
We have information that as recently as October 2023, there were hundreds of North Korean workers at Donggang Haimeng Foodstuff in Liaoning. According to trade records seen by The Outlaw Ocean Project, C.N.C.B. (Companhia Nacional Comércio Bacalhau) was the consignee for shipments of seafood from Donggang Haimeng in 2022.
The trade records also show that Riberalves was the consignee for shipments from Haimeng in 2021.
Pescanorte cod, a brand owned and distributed by C.N.C.B., is sold at Continente. Continente-brand cod products (for example, this one) carry Riberalves’ Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) code on the packaging.
In light of this, we have the following questions for you:
- While we understand that you may not be aware of the above issues, we want to ask if Continente has any comment to make in response to this email?
- Can you confirm or deny if any seafood from Donggang Haimeng has been supplied to Continente by any supplier since December 2019?"
The Outlaw Ocean Project emailed: "As we haven’t heard back from you on this, we wanted to loop around one more time to make sure you saw our query. Our work will be published in Portugal by Público and, if you have a statement or comment to make in response to our query, we will need it before close of business on February 22, 2024."
MC, the parent company of Continente supermarkets, emailed: "We appreciate your contact and the opportunity to clarify any misunderstandings regarding labor practices in the maritime factories in China.
Regarding your information about the presence of North Korean workers at Donggang Haimeng Foodstuff and the associated business records, we state categorically that MC, a Sonae group company, has no relation or connection to the mentioned products.
MC adheres to ethical principles and social responsibility, vehemently condemning any inhumane labor practices or forced labor. Not only do we have no involvement, but we also implement rigorous measures in the selection and monitoring of our business partners, ensuring they fully comply with ethical and legal standards.
We are available to provide any additional information that may be necessary to clarify this situation. MC maintains a strong commitment to transparency and integrity in all its business operations.
Thank you for your attention. We hope this response is sufficient to dispel any doubts that may have arisen."