Workers, as young as 16, are trafficked into Thailand and then forced to work under violent conditions. (Photo Credit: EJF)

Report reveals widespread human trafficking on Thai fishing boats

THAILAND
Wednesday, May 29, 2013, 23:50 (GMT + 9)

The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) has released a new report unveiling evidence of human trafficking, labour abuse and routine violence including murder in Thailand’s seafood industry. In many cases, the fish caught by these very vessels and produced by slaves is used to supply fish to the shrimp industry and provide for fish markets in Europe and the US, highlighted Steve Trent, Executive Director of EJF.

The report challenges Thailand’s progress with human trafficking and argues for the US State Department to downgrade Thailand to its Tier 3, the lowest ranking possible in terms of efforts to combat human trafficking. In contrast to recent statements by the Thai Government on its progress in fighting and preventing human trafficking, EJF’s investigations show that it undoubtedly remains rampant.

“EJF has uncovered the consistent, wide ranging use by pirate fishing operators and criminal businesses of forced and trafficked workers on their boats as a way to maximise their profits. The victims, often among the most vulnerable and desperate, are subject to violent abuse, denied basic freedoms, forced to work punishing hours, savagely beaten and even murdered. This is modern-day slavery,” said Trent.

EJF is calling on the Thai government to provide a detailed, time-bound action-plan to combat modern-day slavery and allow independent monitoring of its implementation. (Photo Credit: EJF)

This report comes ahead of the publication of the US State Department’s annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report due out in June.

Called “Sold to the Sea: Human Trafficking in Thailand’s Fishing Industry,” the EFJ’s report documents severe human rights abuses associated with human trafficking and includes the testimonies taken this year of Burmese workers, as young as 16, trafficked into Thailand and then forced onto fishing vessels by their traffickers where, until being rescued months later, they were victim to grueling and often violent working conditions without any pay.

In addition, the report describes in detail different witness accounts of crew murdered both at sea and on shore. This all offers evidence to support the findings of a survey by the United Nations Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking (UNIAP), undertaken four years ago, which showed that 59 per cent of interviewed migrants trafficked on Thai fishing boats reported witnessing the murder of a fellow worker.  

EJF is campaigning for the international community to develop a Global Record of fishing vessels to facilitate greater transparency and traceability in the seafood sector enabling better monitoring of fishing activities including the labour conditions of the world's fishing fleets. (Photo Credit: EJF)

“It is absolutely clear that the Thai authorities have long known about the trafficking on to fishing vessels (and into shrimp factories) and that the enforcement agencies supposed to prevent this and protect victims either turn a blind eye, or have even colluded with the traffickers and businesses that benefit,” Trent added.

In fact, as the report says, authorities whose job it is to protect workers and ensure they are employed legally and treated decently often are unable or unwilling to do their job.

SOLD TO THE SEA: Human Trafficking in Thailand's Fishing Industry from Environmental Justice Foundation on Vimeo.

Related article:

- Two tuna factories accused of child labour and other human rights abuses

By Natalia Real
[email protected]
www.seafood.media

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