Commerce Ministry to talk to U.S. Ambassador on child labor issue

BANGKOK, 24 Dec 2013. The Commerce Ministry is planning to talk to the U.S. ambassador next month regarding the ministry’s efforts in eradicating child labor.

Permanent Secretary to the Commerce Ministry Ms. Srirat Rastapana said the move is in response to the United States’ 2013 human trafficking reports, which claimed that the maritime, sugarcane, and textile industries
in Thailand have been exploiting child labor.

According to her, the ministry is ready to work with private and other related agencies to address the issue,
saying that the ministry is meeting with U.S. ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney next month as regards the
nation’s efforts and development in dealing with the issue.

She expressed her hope that being transparent and showing sincerity on addressing the problem would secure
Thailand’s place in the U.S. Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) program.

The GSP is a trade program providing preferential duty-free entry for products from beneficiary developing
countries in order to promote economic growth.

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