Thai Attitude To Foreign Labor Needs Urgent Fix

[george]

Thai attitude to foreign labor needs urgent fix

BANGKOK: If Thailand is to move forward as a nation, we have a moral obligation to be fair.

In what is billed as the largest human-trafficking case ever brought by the US federal government, six contractors have been accused of a scheme to hold 400 Thai workers in virtual slavery on farms in Hawaii and Washington State.

Global Horizons Manpower has been accused of abusing the federal guest-worker program by luring the Thai workers with false promises of steady work at decent pay.

The workers also reportedly took on a huge debt – about 300,000 to 670,000 baht each – to pay the 'recruiting fee'.

According to the indictment, the workers, all Thai farmhands, were set up in shoddy housing and told that if they complained or fled they would be arrested and/or deported. under those conditions, which some described as slavery, and with that kind of debt, being fired is not an option. They had to accept just about any abuse dished out to them.

While the indictment in the US is cause for applause, back here in Thailand we need to do some serious soul searching about how we allow such unfair and unjust recruitment processes to go unchecked in our country.

It has been estimated that there are over two million unskilled laborers from Cambodia and Burma currently working in Thailand. Like the American consumers, we Thais want inexpensive and fresh produce, and someone to can our fish and peel our shrimp.

But we consume these goods with little consideration for the plight of the workers who make sure our dinner gets to the table on time.

Too often we see ourselves as doing them a favor, conveniently pointing to the state of the economies and working conditions in their home countries. Such a selfish attitude has to end if we are to move forward as a responsible nation with a moral obligation to be fair to our foreign workers.

It is not uncommon to hear news reports about ridiculous restrictions placed on communities such as the Burmese. Some provincial officials won't even let them celebrate certain cultural activities for fear that they would become too comfortable in Thailand and never go back home.

Let's not forget that it was their inexpensive, back-breaking labor that helped Thailand climb the global economic ladder and become a regional hub in various industries.

Like many places, there is a tendency in Thailand to view unskilled labor as something undignified. But how dignified are we when we knowingly permit this unfair system to continue while we remain indifferent to the plight of our fellow human beings?

The world's idea of the free movement of labor forces should be given its due consideration in Thailand.

People should have the right to work anywhere they want as long as they are hired. If people, including Thais, could enter any particular country with dignity and without undue hassle, they would not need help from traffickers.

Migration has taken place since the first men and women emerged in our world. They come and they go. Nobody has been able to stop them. Perhaps it's time for Thailand to come to terms with this – terms which include respect and fairness to those who wish to work for us.

-- The Nation 2010-09-12

[dumball]

Legal Mexicans are allowed to integrate into the US system because they became a neccessity , because americans would not?could not work for low enough wages for suppliers to be competitive , it has been noted that should this cheap labour be removed , some factories would die a natural death and cost of goods would rise even as much as doubling or tripling in cost to the American consumer .

Edited September 12, 2010 by dumball

[Pib]

A key point of this article is in the opening sentence, "...we have a moral obligation to be fair."

If all countries would live up to that principle regarding immigration/labor practices, the world would be a better place and probably stop several age old conflicts. I know, I know, it's more complicated than that...or is it? Cheers.

[chainarong]

Who did the organizing skills from Thailand???

[Changian]

Looks like The Nation have given up on original articles and are rehashing editorials from the other English language national newspaper in Thailand that cant be mentioned here but which had something along very similar lines on 9 August entitled 'How we bully our migrant workers'

[Thai at Heart]

Legal Mexicans are allowed to integrate into the US system because they became a neccessity , because americans would not?could not work for low enough wages for suppliers to be competitive , it has been noted that should this cheap labour be removed , some factories would die a natural death and cost of goods would rise even as much as doubling or tripling in cost to the American consumer .

Not knowing enough about the American labour market, which goods would increase that much, as opposed to having to import them instead if the indigenous industry disappeared? Seems to me that the difference between paying a 'legal' Mexican or an American would equate to a couple of dollars an hour.

What is the difference from the wage a Mexican takes to say work in Mcdonalds or fruit picking versus that which would attract an American to do the same job?

[Thai at Heart]

Letter in the Nation about Burmese labour in Khon Kaen

Burmese workers' demands are basic and comply with Thai law

Published on September 12, 2010

The demands of the 1,000 striking workers at the Dechanpanich Fishing Net Factory in Khon Kaen continue to fall on deaf ears. The employer has made no moves to sit down and negotiate with the workers, despite their demands being very basic and in total compliance with Thai law.

Instead, the employer has increased the number of security personnel in the grounds. The employer of the fishing-net factory uses fellow factory workers to be security guards, entrusted to keep security among the thousands of workers in their crowded living and working conditions.

The striking workers report that these security guards have been given knives and guns. Pitting migrant against migrant, the striking migrants are afraid that pandemonium may break out if these untrained security guards let loose on them. Already reports are filtering out of the factory of beatings.

At 6pm last night, some officials visited the factory, the workers believe they were from the Department of Employment. The officials offered to correct the documents of five of the workers who had been sacked and whose documents had been cancelled or changed.

However, the migrants were fearful that these changes may not be authorised and any further deleting or writing in their passports may make them invalid in the eyes of the Burmese authorities. And the Burmese Overseas Workers ID was issued by the Ministry of Labour in Burma and therefore needed the Burmese authorities to replace them.

The workers therefore asked for the officials from the Burmese embassy to be present. It is uncertain if the Burmese embassy has been contacted or whether they intend to provide any assistance to their

citizens.

The employer has told the migrants that they may strike until Sunday (today), and they must return to work on Monday but they have not informed the workers of how they intend to meet the workers demands. Nor have they informed them of what will happen if the workers do not return to work.

According to a trading company website, Dechapanich Fishing Net Factory (DFN) boasts that it is one of the largest nylon fishing net factories in the world with more than 4,000 experienced employees and a production capacity of 250 tonnes per month. It exports to over 40 countries including USA, Finland, Denmark, Australia, Japan, Spain, Greece, Italy, Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, etc.

I wonder if they pay the Burmese workers minimum?

[electracm]

Letter in the Nation about Burmese labour in Khon Kaen

Burmese workers' demands are basic and comply with Thai law

Published on September 12, 2010

The demands of the 1,000 striking workers at the Dechanpanich Fishing Net Factory in Khon Kaen continue to fall on deaf ears. The employer has made no moves to sit down and negotiate with the workers, despite their demands being very basic and in total compliance with Thai law.

Instead, the employer has increased the number of security personnel in the grounds. The employer of the fishing-net factory uses fellow factory workers to be security guards, entrusted to keep security among the thousands of workers in their crowded living and working conditions.

The striking workers report that these security guards have been given knives and guns. Pitting migrant against migrant, the striking migrants are afraid that pandemonium may break out if these untrained security guards let loose on them. Already reports are filtering out of the factory of beatings.

At 6pm last night, some officials visited the factory, the workers believe they were from the Department of Employment. The officials offered to correct the documents of five of the workers who had been sacked and whose documents had been cancelled or changed.

However, the migrants were fearful that these changes may not be authorised and any further deleting or writing in their passports may make them invalid in the eyes of the Burmese authorities. And the Burmese Overseas Workers ID was issued by the Ministry of Labour in Burma and therefore needed the Burmese authorities to replace them.

The workers therefore asked for the officials from the Burmese embassy to be present. It is uncertain if the Burmese embassy has been contacted or whether they intend to provide any assistance to their

citizens.

The employer has told the migrants that they may strike until Sunday (today), and they must return to work on Monday but they have not informed the workers of how they intend to meet the workers demands. Nor have they informed them of what will happen if the workers do not return to work.

According to a trading company website, Dechapanich Fishing Net Factory (DFN) boasts that it is one of the largest nylon fishing net factories in the world with more than 4,000 experienced employees and a production capacity of 250 tonnes per month. It exports to over 40 countries including USA, Finland, Denmark, Australia, Japan, Spain, Greece, Italy, Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, etc.

I wonder if they pay the Burmese workers minimum?

This is a great article form the Nation...makes a lot of sense, both morally and practically. I''m amazed at the stuff that;'s coming out of that paper these days.

The way migrant workers are treated here does nothing for the image of Thailand, and possibly it should be remembered that unskilled workers rarely leave their homes to work in another country unless there is a desperate financial need to do so.

The trafficking of any group, for any reason, is reprehensible, and ripping off the needy in this way is unforgivable. Wonder what nationality the rippers-off who organised the trips from here are?

And while we're on this subject, how about making it easier for farangs here to give of their time and experience to help the disdavantaged without having to fear for their legitimacy here?

As regards the workers at the fishing net factory , I wish them all success, but I'm not sitting on a hot stove waiting for good news about that either....

People who live in glass houses....etc.etc

[asiawatcher]

Just in generalities I am happy to say my family's lifestyle here is far superior to that in the west and a lot of that comes from being able to have Burmese maids assist with all things in the home. Whilst the minimum Thai labour department wages is somewhere around 7,000 Baht a month (I believe) not many Thai's I know adhere to that especially at 'servant' level. I for one hire Burmese in many instances as they are usually good workers and I pay well above 'award' rates. We also treat our maids with respect and no contempt and that is where a lot of the problems arise - the attitude of Thai employees towards lesser educated and unskilled labour.

I also know a lot of Farang here who work at lesser rates than they would receive offshore or within their home countries thus a balance across the whole system. But human exploitation and indentured labour based on BS costs all become nothing more than mafia styled gross injustice to a fellow human and should be punished to the absolute limit the law allows. And there is a lot of that happening in Thailand as well as Burma, Cambodia and Laos and many other countries.

I note there is nothing mentioned about Thai labourers in Dubai who also suffer the same fate as the ones in the US - once they have left our shores, they are fair game to the Arab communities. All these areas to need investigating as most are originated from Thai 'task' masters with motivations (as always) - greed. The offenses being committed in Dubai and Kuwait as well as other of the Arab states, to Thai's, are worse than the situation exposed by the FBI but out of sight out of mind mentality prevails. If it were my brother, father or daughter or mother I would be screaming for help but right now that all seems to fall on deaf ears.

So where are Amnesty International and the UN Human Rights do-gooders or is this not high enough on their food chain to warrant investigation?

[damian7000]

this was a difficult article to read. if they don't like the conditions, they can stay in their own countries and work for a fifth of what they're making here and under worse conditions. same with the mexicans in america. people complaining about the high price of stuff in thailand and the rise in cost of living? how about we give all the migrant workers 500 baht a day and full medical benefits and then see how you like the cost of living here.

[Gumballl]

Legal Mexicans are allowed to integrate into the US system because they became a neccessity , because americans would not?could not work for low enough wages for suppliers to be competitive , it has been noted that should this cheap labour be removed , some factories would die a natural death and cost of goods would rise even as much as doubling or tripling in cost to the American consumer .

Not knowing enough about the American labour market, which goods would increase that much, as opposed to having to import them instead if the indigenous industry disappeared? Seems to me that the difference between paying a 'legal' Mexican or an American would equate to a couple of dollars an hour.

What is the difference from the wage a Mexican takes to say work in Mcdonalds or fruit picking versus that which would attract an American to do the same job?

In some communities in the US, McDonalds has been known to pay $7.50/hour (if not more) for part-time labor. For the migrant farmers, the pay can be as low as $2.00/hour, and this work is seasonable. Farmers apparently are exempt from paying the (US) Federal Minimum Wage to the migrant farmers.

I don't profess to know all of the details of hiring practices, nor wages, of illegal immigrants in the US, but without them, the economy would certainly falter. Illegal immigrants not only pick the fruits/vegetables from the fields, they also are instrumental in preparing the foods as well, whether it be in a factory or at a restaurant. They also perform a handful of other basic services that only the most uneducated Americans would whine about.

Edited September 12, 2010 by Gumballl

[Canada]

Letter in the Nation about Burmese labour in Khon Kaen

Burmese workers' demands are basic and comply with Thai law

Published on September 12, 2010

The demands of the 1,000 striking workers at the Dechanpanich Fishing Net Factory in Khon Kaen continue to fall on deaf ears. The employer has made no moves to sit down and negotiate with the workers, despite their demands being very basic and in total compliance with Thai law.

Instead, the employer has increased the number of security personnel in the grounds. The employer of the fishing-net factory uses fellow factory workers to be security guards, entrusted to keep security among the thousands of workers in their crowded living and working conditions.

The striking workers report that these security guards have been given knives and guns. Pitting migrant against migrant, the striking migrants are afraid that pandemonium may break out if these untrained security guards let loose on them. Already reports are filtering out of the factory of beatings.

At 6pm last night, some officials visited the factory, the workers believe they were from the Department of Employment. The officials offered to correct the documents of five of the workers who had been sacked and whose documents had been cancelled or changed.

However, the migrants were fearful that these changes may not be authorised and any further deleting or writing in their passports may make them invalid in the eyes of the Burmese authorities. And the Burmese Overseas Workers ID was issued by the Ministry of Labour in Burma and therefore needed the Burmese authorities to replace them.

The workers therefore asked for the officials from the Burmese embassy to be present. It is uncertain if the Burmese embassy has been contacted or whether they intend to provide any assistance to their

citizens.

The employer has told the migrants that they may strike until Sunday (today), and they must return to work on Monday but they have not informed the workers of how they intend to meet the workers demands. Nor have they informed them of what will happen if the workers do not return to work.

According to a trading company website, Dechapanich Fishing Net Factory (DFN) boasts that it is one of the largest nylon fishing net factories in the world with more than 4,000 experienced employees and a production capacity of 250 tonnes per month. It exports to over 40 countries including USA, Finland, Denmark, Australia, Japan, Spain, Greece, Italy, Guatemala, Mexico, Canada, etc.

I wonder if they pay the Burmese workers minimum?

This is a great article form the Nation...makes a lot of sense, both morally and practically. I''m amazed at the stuff that;'s coming out of that paper these days.

The way migrant workers are treated here does nothing for the image of Thailand, and possibly it should be remembered that unskilled workers rarely leave their homes to work in another country unless there is a desperate financial need to do so.

The trafficking of any group, for any reason, is reprehensible, and ripping off the needy in this way is unforgivable. Wonder what nationality the rippers-off who organised the trips from here are?

And while we're on this subject, how about making it easier for farangs here to give of their time and experience to help the disdavantaged without having to fear for their legitimacy here?

As regards the workers at the fishing net factory , I wish them all success, but I'm not sitting on a hot stove waiting for good news about that either....

People who live in glass houses....etc.etc

Yeah, great article.....why is it written in English and why is it posted on this site? It's kind of....missing it's target....don't you think? It's written for us, in our language, but addresses them. Weird.

Having said that.....It is a good topic for discussion.

Edited September 12, 2010 by Canada

[Canada]

this was a difficult article to read. if they don't like the conditions, they can stay in their own countries and work for a fifth of what they're making here and under worse conditions. same with the mexicans in america. people complaining about the high price of stuff in thailand and the rise in cost of living? how about we give all the migrant workers 500 baht a day and full medical benefits and then see how you like the cost of living here.

Did you read the article?

Did you read the part about what they thought they were signing up for?

[moe666]

Legal Mexicans are allowed to integrate into the US system because they became a neccessity , because americans would not?could not work for low enough wages for suppliers to be competitive , it has been noted that should this cheap labour be removed , some factories would die a natural death and cost of goods would rise even as much as doubling or tripling in cost to the American consumer .

In many places in The US illegals are also preforming skilled work as well, carpenter, sheetrock, and stucco and they command the prevailing wage for that skill.

[Crushdepth]

I don't have a lot of sympathy - Thai workers get abused overseas, and Burmese and Cambodian workers get abused in Thailand. People in glass houses need to clean up their own disgraceful act before throwing stones.

[Sabre]

Maybe it's time that we stopped thinking about this issue along national lines and rather started considering it as a matter of 'privileged and wealthy' vs. 'poor and vulnerable'.

Because exploitation seems to be more or less universally acceptable amongst western, consumerist societies. Nationality doesn't seem to matter in the modern paradigm.

[jayjay0]

The only reason they are illegal immigrants is because Thailand like the States refuses to face the fact that they can not do it themselves that they need them.

As usual look good deny the rest.

[overhaul38]

Legal Mexicans are allowed to integrate into the US system because they became a neccessity , because americans would not?could not work for low enough wages for suppliers to be competitive , it has been noted that should this cheap labour be removed , some factories would die a natural death and cost of goods would rise even as much as doubling or tripling in cost to the American consumer .

Legal Mexican (and Thais) are allowed to integrate into the US system because they want to. Legal immigrants are volunteers.

They very obviously find it more desirable than their country otherwise they would not immigrate.

[overhaul38]

Legal Mexicans are allowed to integrate into the US system because they became a neccessity , because americans would not?could not work for low enough wages for suppliers to be competitive , it has been noted that should this cheap labour be removed , some factories would die a natural death and cost of goods would rise even as much as doubling or tripling in cost to the American consumer .

In many places in The US illegals are also preforming skilled work as well, carpenter, sheetrock, and stucco and they command the prevailing wage for that skill.

To add: Illegals are skilled and unskilled but USUALLY are there to work but bypass the legal process because it is denied or because it is expensive and time consuming.

The U.S. admits more than 200,000 legal immigrants each year. Not many countries can make that statement.

[overhaul38]

The only reason they are illegal immigrants is because Thailand like the States refuses to face the fact that they can not do it themselves that they need them.

As usual look good deny the rest.

Every country has illegals (probably even yours) but contrary to your statement, who do you think did the work before the illegals came? Does their country not need their labor?

Why was it necessary for the Thai Nationals to immigrate to see work under dubious conditions?

[overhaul38]

Legal Mexicans are allowed to integrate into the US system because they became a neccessity , because americans would not?could not work for low enough wages for suppliers to be competitive , it has been noted that should this cheap labour be removed , some factories would die a natural death and cost of goods would rise even as much as doubling or tripling in cost to the American consumer .

Not knowing enough about the American labour market, which goods would increase that much, as opposed to having to import them instead if the indigenous industry disappeared? Seems to me that the difference between paying a 'legal' Mexican or an American would equate to a couple of dollars an hour.

What is the difference from the wage a Mexican takes to say work in Mcdonalds or fruit picking versus that which would attract an American to do the same job?

In some communities in the US, McDonalds has been known to pay $7.50/hour (if not more) for part-time labor. For the migrant farmers, the pay can be as low as $2.00/hour, and this work is seasonable. Farmers apparently are exempt from paying the (US) Federal Minimum Wage to the migrant farmers.

I don't profess to know all of the details of hiring practices, nor wages, of illegal immigrants in the US, but without them, the economy would certainly falter. Illegal immigrants not only pick the fruits/vegetables from the fields, they also are instrumental in preparing the foods as well, whether it be in a factory or at a restaurant. They also perform a handful of other basic services that only the most uneducated Americans would whine about.

Would you make the same statement about the illegal Burmese in Thailand? Are they essential to the economy?

Americans do in fact pick a large percentage of the fruits/vegetables from the field, they also are instrumental in preparing the foods as well, whether it be in a factory or at a restaurant.

They also perform a multitude of basic services (but probably do complain but so do the illegal Mexicans).

[overhaul38]

this was a difficult article to read. if they don't like the conditions, they can stay in their own countries and work for a fifth of what they're making here and under worse conditions. same with the mexicans in america. people complaining about the high price of stuff in thailand and the rise in cost of living? how about we give all the migrant workers 500 baht a day and full medical benefits and then see how you like the cost of living here.

Did you read the article?

Did you read the part about what they thought they were signing up for?

The article very clearly points out that illegals are very often exploited and Thailand should look at the treatment given to migrant laborers.

The U.S. has laws that protect laborers from exploitation and they are enforced. Unfortunately too often we hear RUMORS of illegals being towed out to sea and abandoned etc.

[geriatrickid]

Not knowing enough about the American labour market, which goods would increase that much, as opposed to having to import them instead if the indigenous industry disappeared? Seems to me that the difference between paying a 'legal' Mexican or an American would equate to a couple of dollars an hour.

What is the difference from the wage a Mexican takes to say work in Mcdonalds or fruit picking versus that which would attract an American to do the same job?

There are some similarities between the illegal workers in the US and Thailand. For the most part these workers are kept out of sight and do the dangerous dirty jobs. For example, In the USA it is slaughterhouses and meat cutting factories. In thailand it is construction. Tainted production lines are now common in the USA and shoddy construction is the norm in Thailand. There are actually standards in Thailand just as there are in the USA. Unfortunately, the companies that seek to maximize profits and satisfy consumer demand for lower costs by using illegal labour and avoiding issues such as fair wages and benefits also show the same disregard for safety regulations. The real estate developers in Thailand that sell those nice looking condos with the poor quality wouldn't be able to sell the units if they actually had to pay for qualified labour. Walmart, Costco, McDonalds etc. would have a fit if they saw the cost of meat increase 20%. The consumers aren't even given the choice to decide for themselves now.