Thai Industry Bodies Commit to Combatting Labor Abuses
November 11, 2013. The Thai Chamber of Commerce and the Board of Trade of Thailand, led by chairman Isara Vongkusolkit, together with Thai Fishery Producers Coalition (TFPC), have jointly signed the declaration of intent to ‘Stop Illegal Labour in the Fishery Industrial Chain’ to fight against child and forced labor.
TFPC is a joint platform between the government and the private sectors which consist of 8 organizations plus Charoen Pokphand Foods with the aim of solving child and forced labor problem throughout the industry supply chain. The private sectors consist of the Thai Frozen Foods Association, Thai Food Processors’ Association, Thai Tuna Industry Association, Thai Shrimp Association, the National Fisheries Association of Thailand, Thai Overseas Fisheries Association, Thai Feed Mill Association and The Thai Fishmeal Producers Association.
TFPC has focused on 4 key objectives, the first of which is to encourage fair practices in workplaces throughout
the fishery industrial chain and to also prevent the use of illegal, child and forced labor and human trafficking.
They have also committed to cooperate with all government agencies to announce an action plan leading to further improved legal practices and international requirements to end the use of illegal, child, and forced labor, and human trafficking, throughout the industry’s supply chain.
The signing was attended by Deputy Prime Minister and Agriculture Minister, Yukol Limlamthong; Minister of Social Development and Human Security, Pawena Hongsakul; Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Siriwat Kajornprasart and representatives from the ministry and embassies along with other related industries totaling over 300 witnesses. Our Commercial Minister Ms. Benchawan Ukrid also participated in this event.
This collaboration was also intended to “release Thailand from the allegation of unfair treatment for migrant
labor and human trafficking” – to prevent the US from moving Thailand from the Tier 2 Watch List onto the Tier
3 in US Department of State’s Trafficking in Person Report (TIP) which will be reviewed annually.
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