Human trafficking victims on the Thai fishing boat. (Photo Credit: Kyaw Thaung)

Thai fishing sector deems US’s TIP report as ‘disappointing’

THAILAND
Thursday, July 30, 2015, 00:30 (GMT + 9)

The US’s decision to maintain Thailand in Tier 3 for a second year in its annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report has arisen disappointment in the Thai fishing sector but was welcomed by several non-government organizations.

The Thai fishing sector expressed dissatisfaction at the fact that despite the country’s efforts to crack down on human trafficking and solved labour problems during the past year, the US Government has kept the country at the TIP's lowest level, The Nation reported.

In reference to this issue, Thai Frozen Foods Association president Poj Aramwattananont expressed doubts over the US's decision after considering the country’s implemented strict measures.

In addition, Somsak Paneetatyasai, president of the Thai Shrimp Association, stressed that the US’ report should not affect Thailand's trade or result in other non-trade barriers, arguing it would only be “a blemish on the country's image.”

"Thailand needs time to proceed with our measures in combating human trafficking. The government and private enterprises have proceeded on the right track in solving the trafficking problem. The US should upgrade Thailand's trade status next year," he said.

This view is supported by Chanintr Chalisarapong, president of the Thai Tuna Industry Association, who forecast that the US and the EU will continue to trade with Thai traders, as private enterprises have clearly proved to their trading partners the high standard of labour treatment in many industries, especially fisheries.

This outlook is also shared by Thanavath Phonvichai, director of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce's Economic and Business Forecasting Centre, who highlighted that private firms made their own contracts and have a programmes to create understanding among individual firms.

On the other hand, 25 NGOs, including Human Rights Watch, Greenpeace and the American Federation of Labour and Congress of Industrial Organisations (AFL-CIO), support the US State Department's decision to maintain Thailand's Tier 3 designation.

These NGOs expressed their views in a letter addressed to US Secretary of State John Kerry, claiming that Thailand "needs to demonstrate it is willing to enforce newly established mechanisms to increase transparency and regulatory accountability within its seafood industry.”

Among the measures needed to combat human trafficking, the NGOs highlighted the significance of conducting more frequent inspections at sea, ensuring inspectors are trained to identify and respond to the needs of trafficking victims, and cracking down on the trade of fraudulent crew manifests and identification documents at ports.

For his part, the Thai Prime Minister, Prayut Chan-o-cha, said his government would not convey its disappointment to Washington but would continue to comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking.

Meanwhile, Patrick Murphy, the US charge d’affaires in Thailand, encouraged the country to maintain this momentum and to remain committed to solving the problem of combating human trafficking.
 

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- British newspaper reveals more slavery cases in seafood sector
- Thai IUU and modern slavery must be addressed as interconnected issues, EJF says

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