FM challenges HRW’s report of widespread labour abuses in Thai fishing industry

By Thai PBS

 

 

The Foreign Ministry on Thursday (Jan 25) rejected a report by New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) that abuses and exploitation of migrant workers in the fisheries sector in Thailand remain widespread and that the Thai government has failed to address the problem effectively.

 

In its report, titled “Hidden Chains: Forced Labor and Rights Abuses in Thailand’s Fishing Industry,” released at a briefing at the European Parliament on Jan 23, HRW suggested that the European Union should issue a “yellow card” to Thailand for its failure to live up to the commitment to address abuses and exploitation of migrant workers from Myanmar and Cambodia in the fisheries sector. 

 

“No one should be fooled by regulations that look good on paper but are not properly enforced,” Brad Adams, HRW’s Asia director said “The EU and US urgently need to increase pressure on Thailand to protect the rights, health, and safety of fishers.”

 

Full story: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/fm-challenges-hrws-report-widespread-labour-abuses-thai-fishing-industry/

 

-- © Copyright Thai PBS 2018-01-26

A few years back we happened to come upon some workers in the fishing industry. While I was taking photos someone approached my wife and asked us not to talk to the workers and that we should leave...

1 hour ago, webfact said:

“No one should be fooled by regulations that look good on paper but are not properly enforced,”

Is there a single foreigner living in Thailand who can’t relate to this statement?

 

Doublingdown when you’re clearly in the wrong just makes you look even more foolish and inept. A concept you will have to come to terms with when dealing with the outside world, Thailand. 

50 minutes ago, missoura said:

A few years back we happened to come upon some workers in the fishing industry. While I was taking photos someone approached my wife and asked us not to talk to the workers and that we should leave...

Maybe they thought you’d try abusing them and take away their rights. They were simply protecting their workers. 

 

It’s all in the report Thailand sent out. 

Someone forgot the infamous phrase: "it's all just a big misunderstanding."

Quote

Disappointedly, the Report of HRW contains many outdated references caused by using information from the situation in 2016 and in some cases, dating back to 2012

 

Could this be because the practices that were going on in 2012 are still rife today?

3 hours ago, webfact said:

“No one should be fooled by regulations that look good on paper but are not properly enforced,”

A  classic statement that applies to just about all regulations in Thailand. And these precious darlings in The Foreign Ministry get upset about it. They think that by putting in a few more ATMs in the fishing ports they have done enough.

The Foreign Ministry is showing itself to be the second most incompetent ministry in the Thai military government. After the Education Ministry that is.

In the Land of Denial Corruption and Incompetence rule;  that's why they are always having to deny everything !

4 hours ago, webfact said:

The Foreign Ministry on Thursday (Jan 25) rejected a report by New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) that abuses and exploitation of migrant workers in the fisheries sector in Thailand remain widespread and that the Thai government has failed to address the problem effectively.

Reject reports all you want, but it won’t change the truth contained within them.