Thai fishing boat. (Photo Credit: SeaDave/CC BY 2.0)
MEPs urge Thailand to address fishing industry forced labour
THAILAND
Thursday, March 13, 2014, 00:40 (GMT + 9)
As part of ongoing trade negotiations between the EU and Thailand, the the European Parliament (EP) approved a resolution urging the latter to address human trafficking and forced labour issues in its fishing industry.
This decisive vote was welcomed by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), who had already urged the Thai Government to work towards a sustainable and ethical fishing industry and to take firm and decisive action against business owners and corrupt officials exploiting modern day slaves.
Steve Trent, Executive Director of EJF, stated: “[…] Members of the European Parliament have sent a clear message that European consumers do not want seafood associated with slavery on their plates.”
In their press release, EJF explained that the EU is Thailand’s third largest trading partner and Thailand is the EU’s third largest trading partner inside the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN). However, evidence of widespread human rights abuses and human trafficking in Thailand’s fishing industry has overshadowed the negotiations.
The resolution, proposed by President of the European Parliament Fisheries Committee (PECH) Gabriel Mato MEP, highlights that: “The ILO and various NGOs have recently uncovered serious shortcomings with regard to social and labour conditions and respect for human rights in the Thai fishing industry.”
Furthermore, the resolution calls for Thailand to “respect, promote and implement internationally recognised labour standards…including those on forced labour and child labour.”
It also calls for Thailand to be required to cooperate in fighting Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, citing the involvement of Thai-owned fishing vessels in IUU fishing in West Africa.
In its latest Slavery at Sea report, EJF revealed that there is further evidence of human trafficking and the routine use of violence in the Thai fishing industry, along with the failure of the Thai Government to identify and prosecute criminals, corrupt officials and unscrupulous business operators.
Related article:
- Govt fails to address ‘seafood slavery,’ report claims
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