The Rehab Archipelago - Human Rights Watch

In April 2011, Human Rights Watch wrote to the chief executive officer of Vestergaard
Frandsen SA seeking information on the company’s manufacturing practices in
Vietnam. 153 Vestergaard Frandsen SA responded to the letter immediately, sending
senior staff members to Vietnam to investigate the claim and to New York to meet
Human Rights Watch.
The same month, the company met with Human Rights Watch and reported on their
investigation. In brief, the company stated that:
• They contracted with one company in Vietnam who managed production using 71
approved sub-contractors. Four of these sub-contractors engaged companies to
produce bed nets by detainees in drug detention centers without authorization.
• Detainees in drug detention centers produced approximately 250,000 bed nets
for Vestergaard Frandsen SA between April and November, 2010. 154
Following its investigation, Vestergaard Frandsen SA terminated all relationships
with the identified sub-contractors. The company also consulted with an
international accounting firm to develop a strengthened “responsible supply chain
management system,” encompassing a supplier code of conduct, site visits (with a
standardized check-list), and third-party auditing. 155
The company reiterated in a communication with Human Rights Watch its commitment:
...to performing all of its duties in a highly ethical, transparent and
responsible manner for the benefit of society. Disseminating our Business
Conduct Principles into the supply chain is of the highest priority and will
not only improve quality and mitigate business and reputational risk, but
more importantly, will advance responsible business practices among
suppliers… Vestergaard Frandsen therefore wants to work with suppliers
based on the following principles that derive from internationally agreed
conventions on human rights and labour rights, including the Universal
153 L etter from Human Rights Watch to Mikkel Vestergaard Frandsen, chief executive officer of Vestergaard
Frandsen SA, April 1, 2011. Copy on file with Human Rights Watch.
154 Human Rights Watch interview with Vestergaard Frandsen executives, New York, April 19, 2011.
155 Email communication from Jaques Bogh, Corporate Tax and Compliance manager, Vestergaard Frandsen, to
Human Rights Watch, July 1, 2011.
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