Thai authorities move to stop human trafficking, illegal employment

October 12, 2012

Thai authorities move to stop human trafficking, illegal employment

วันศุกร์ ที่ 12 ต.ค. 2555

SAMUT SAKHON, Oct 12 – Thai authorities in this seaboard province, 35km southwest of Bangkok, are seeking cooperation from the private sector in tackling the problems of human trafficking, child labour and illegal employment, according to a senior provincial official.

Samut Sakhon deputy governor Panthep Srivanich said the provincial administration will announce instructions for 200 operators of the labour-intensive shrimp peeling business to compile employee lists and submit them to labour officials.

The lists will enable provincial labour welfare and protection officials to see that business operators abide by the law.

He said regular labour inspections are required as Thailand wants to be removed from “Tier 2 Watch List” on human trafficking as stated by the US State Department.

The deputy governor said the inspections will be jointly carried out by labour officials and private operators but Sompong Sakaeo, of the Labour Rights Promotion Network, disagreed.

Mr Sompong said the inspections may lead to extortion. He advised the authorities educate operators on relevant laws and regulations, and that parents send their children to school, and schools should avoid turning down children.

He said operators should be made clear of the advantages and disadvantages of the new round of labour registration and the future employment of foreign workers on government-to-government basis.

Pushing illegal foreign workers back to their countries does not solve the problems of human trafficking and illegal employment, he said. (MCOT online news)

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