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Thai fishing sector workers. (Photo Credit: ILRF)

US to upgrade Thailand as to human trafficking

Click on the flag for more information about Thailand THAILAND
Thursday, June 30, 2016, 02:10 (GMT + 9)

US authorities have decided to remove Thailand from its list of worst human trafficking offenders after improvements made by Bangkok’s military-run government in the seafood industry.

The upgrade was confirmed by a US official in Washington and a Bangkok-based official from an international organisation with direct knowledge of the rankings.

It is believed this measure will mark a boost for US-Thai relations, The Guardian reported.

Experts in the international sphere have cited it also comes as President Barack Obama works to forge a united front among wavering south-east Asian countries against China’s pursuit of its territorial claims in the South China Sea.

US officials stated the State Department’s updated annual Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, which is expected to cite improvements in Thailand’s efforts to combat human trafficking, especially in its vital multibillion-dollar seafood industry.

The upgrade would put Thailand on a “tier 2 watch list” and remove it from the rating for countries with the worst human-trafficking records, known as tier 3.

Thailand recently reformed its anti-trafficking laws and introduced a system to track fishing vessels, part of what it called “comprehensive and irreversible” measures to clean up its supply chain and curb illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.

“Thai officials in all relevant agencies have met with and listened to officials from the US and international organisations, as well as NGOs that champion on human rights and trafficking,” pointed out head of the Department of American and South Pacific Affairs Songsak Saicheua, The Nation reported.

"We answer their questions, listen to their recommendation and bring them to see the reality on the ground," he said, "and always tell them we enforce 'zero tolerance' on human trafficking."

Nevertheless, rights groups insist millions of migrant workers remain vulnerable to abuse in the fishing sector and other Thai industries. Investigations by news organisations and rights groups have exposed widespread trafficking and abuse, sparking fears of a consumer backlash in the west against Thai-sourced seafood.

For his part, Thai defence minister General Prawit Wongsuwan said the upgrade to the tier 2 watch list did not mean Thailand will stop tackling trafficking issues.

Thailand is the world’s third-largest seafood exporter, and much of the labour the fishing industry employs comes from neighbouring Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar.
 

Related articles:

- EJF questions Thailand’s progress on human trafficking in fisheries
- Thailand downgraded to Tier 3 in Trafficking in Persons Report
- Report reveals widespread human trafficking on Thai fishing boats

 
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