Thailand fears downgrade in human trafficking report could draw US sanctions

[Baerboxer]

Seastallion post # 8

Ahhhhh, ok, the US has some cases of cheap slave labour, so that makes it OK for Thailand to actively encourage (by turning a blind eye) the ferocious and inhumane slave trade.

I also pointed out that the U.K. suffered from such matters as well,however I did neglect to mention that just about every semi and fully developed industrial country in the world suffers from the same blight.

But if one wishes to cast stones one should be innocent of the charges one is laying.

The problem is not the country. It is ''human nature,'' (greed and need) , the problem is people, those who want cheap labour and those who seek employment so as to better their lifestyles and live as opposed to existing.

The greed lies with corporations and their executives who preach one thing whilst fully exploiting cheap labor, including slave, bonded and child, in other countries,

Look at how the big supermarkets treat even local suppliers in the UK - forcing government intervention. There "screw'em on price, put all the risk on them, and then pay'em late mentality has helped make their profits and bonuses nice and high. Forget the drivel that's in their annual reports, the CSR, the sustainability, the sourcing with dignity, the diversity, etc etc. All very nice reading but when push comes the shove, it's money that counts.

The so called developed government need to look inwards as well as outwards for sure. But, they also have the right to decide how they source, assess, evaluate and qualify suppliers at the national and corporate level; and instruct legal entities in their jurisdictions accordingly.

Cheap labor - a tad different from enforced slavery (with execution if you don't like it), being trafficked and held prisoner, bonded so there's no escape or chance of betterment; and restricted access to education and social improvement to maintain the status quo.

No country is perfect. But some try to do the right thing, and others, well, they don't.

[Travel Dude]

Of course there are no cases of ''human trafficking and illegals in working as cheap slave labour in the U.S or elsewhere for that matter are there?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Morecambe_Bay_cockling_disaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback

That is not the point Siampolee.

It is not because someone else does that we can do. There are collective but also individual responsibilities based on morals and ethics and respect for other human beings.

[Grindting]

Thailand deserves to be on that list with the other dumps

[TimCM]

"Thailand fears downgrade in human trafficking report could draw US sanctions"

The country seems more concerned about the sanctions than the issue of human trafficking itself.

This exactly.

There is no concern as they are only low level people. It is ingrained in society here. There is a false sense of superiority from propaganda and little concern for anything but money. Such Buddhist philosophies

[wandasloan]

Of course there are no cases of ''human trafficking and illegals in working as cheap slave labour in the U.S or elsewhere for that matter are there?

If you read the report, you will see that the US is part of the report and is quite honest about slavery and human trafficking in the United States.

Do have a read. It is free.

.

[Stradavarius37]

Thailand deserves to be downgraded - I hope this bitch slap wakes up the nation to their collective shame.

[kleelof]

Thailand deserves to be on that list with the other dumps

Funny, it says 'Advanced Member' next to your name considering this type of statement does not seem very advanced at all.

[Travel2003]

USA with sanctions against Thailand?

That would be interesting.

The last bastion of greed cutting off one of it's income sources? Don't think so.

[slipperylobster]

If it doesn't go Thailand's way then slap a defamation charge on the U.S. That seems to be the way this issue is handled in Thailand, anyone who speaks out about Thailand's Trafficking gets sued.

Cannot, and will not, happen. Same way we could not slap charges on a Thai Government complaining about the US Government.

.

Thing is.....Everyone is aware that there is a problem with human trafficking. Just read the news.

Edited June 20, 2014 by slipperylobster

[Just1Voice]

Why would Thailand give a sh_t? They didn't when the US imposed sanctions over the coup.

The sanctions the US imposed after the coup were, basically, some minor military aid that doesn't really amount to much. But, if LOS is dropped from Tier 2 to Tier 3, there would be major financial penalties LOS would incur. Not just from the US, but also the EU. Thai products could, and probably would, be boycotted. Stiffer trade barriers in Thailand's way for doing any type of business with anyone, and the baht would lose big time. The sanctions from the US on military aid after the coup were a drop in the bucket, a "token sanction" if you will, and only affected the military. Dropping the country to Tier 3 would have serious financial repercussions for the entire country.

Understand now?

[Roadman]

Khun Chanchao Chaiyanukij is dreaming big time if he thinks they will be upgraded to Tier two. If anything they should be lucky to survive the Tier two watchlist level. They do appear to be doing barely enough to meet their current rating but given they have sat their for four years and only played lip service to protect their markets, one could not blame the US if they downgraded them. Would think thou that with the major changes in governance and the Junta making significant changes in the last few weeks and with the attempts to regulate the migrant labour force then the US might give the Junta one more year to show that they can deliver what politicial parties have failed dismally at. But then this is the US we are talking about so none of their decisions would suprise when another country does not dance to their tune.

[luckizuchinni]

Of course there are no cases of ''human trafficking and illegals in working as cheap slave labour in the U.S or elsewhere for that matter are there?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Morecambe_Bay_cockling_disaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback

Over the years so many leading Americans have said " the US isn't the world's policeman " yet the country keeps on acting as if it is.

I don't understand the logic of your post. The US is not telling the rest of the world what to do. The citizens of the US do not want to buy products that are made by slave labor. Period. So if Thailand is sanctioned, that only affects Thai exports to the US, not to the world. Your "world's policeman" comment does not really apply.

This is no different from any other sanctions issued by any other country for any variety of reasons, from mad cow disease, to Israel (with regards to most Arab states) to the old RSA sanctions to anything else.

[assayer]

Of course there are no cases of ''human trafficking and illegals in working as cheap slave labour in the U.S or elsewhere for that matter are there?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Morecambe_Bay_cockling_disaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback

So you are saying that if you do the second wrong that makes it okay for both???????

[Thai at Heart]

Well, if u had a slave labour problem and u wanted to find a way to repatriate millions without paying for it, or actively arresting everyone, how would you do it?

Spread a rumour about it of course.

This exodus has probably been sparked deliberately to save CPs backside.

[Mudcrab]

Of course there are no cases of ''human trafficking and illegals in working as cheap slave labour in the U.S or elsewhere for that matter are there?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Morecambe_Bay_cockling_disaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback

Yes there is. But those countries are all trying to do something about it. And don't have repressive defamation laws that can be used to suppress the truth becoming public. Slight difference.

Have a closer look at the countries on the list....many afro-islamic nations. I think Thailand is small beer compared to the atrocities carried out there.

Anybody want to buy 500 Nigerian schoolgirls??

[Mudcrab]

Of course there are no cases of ''human trafficking and illegals in working as cheap slave labour in the U.S or elsewhere for that matter are there?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2004_Morecambe_Bay_cockling_disaster

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Operation_Wetback

Over the years so many leading Americans have said " the US isn't the world's policeman " yet the country keeps on acting as if it is.

I believe you are misunderstanding the situation.

This is not a case of policing.

U.S. Laws require evaluations of countries who receive funds from the U.S. government. Similar to how they cut back some military aid when the coup happened.

This TIP report is just that. The U.S. sends money to Thailand for social, educational and military support. It would be irresponsible of them to send money to a country that allows something like human trafficking go un

It's irresponsible for the US to send any money anywhere when they have to borrow said money in the first place.

Don't kid yourself about being touchy feely about any largesse from any Government - it's all for political purposes nothing else.

Most Governments don't give a sh!t about their own people ,let alone others suffering.

[larsjohnsson]

If Thailand is not downgraded I think it will be because of the coup and the USA's confidence in the junta to make substantial improvements quickly.

The USA confidence in the junta......are you serious

[mesquite]

Why would Thailand give a sh_t? They didn't when the US imposed sanctions over the coup.

The sanctions the US imposed after the coup were, basically, some minor military aid that doesn't really amount to much. But, if LOS is dropped from Tier 2 to Tier 3, there would be major financial penalties LOS would incur. Not just from the US, but also the EU. Thai products could, and probably would, be boycotted. Stiffer trade barriers in Thailand's way for doing any type of business with anyone, and the baht would lose big time. The sanctions from the US on military aid after the coup were a drop in the bucket, a "token sanction" if you will, and only affected the military. Dropping the country to Tier 3 would have serious financial repercussions for the entire country.

Understand now?

Well, I guess we're going to find out if your crystal ball is accurate.

The US just downgraded Thailand to Tier 3.

Let's see if they give a sh_t.

Edited June 20, 2014 by mesquite

[Bluespunk]

Why would Thailand give a sh_t? They didn't when the US imposed sanctions over the coup.

The sanctions the US imposed after the coup were, basically, some minor military aid that doesn't really amount to much. But, if LOS is dropped from Tier 2 to Tier 3, there would be major financial penalties LOS would incur. Not just from the US, but also the EU. Thai products could, and probably would, be boycotted. Stiffer trade barriers in Thailand's way for doing any type of business with anyone, and the baht would lose big time. The sanctions from the US on military aid after the coup were a drop in the bucket, a "token sanction" if you will, and only affected the military. Dropping the country to Tier 3 would have serious financial repercussions for the entire country.

Understand now?

Well, I guess we're going to find out if your crystal ball is accurate. The US just downgraded Thailand to Tier 3.

Really?

[mesquite]

Why would Thailand give a sh_t? They didn't when the US imposed sanctions over the coup.

The sanctions the US imposed after the coup were, basically, some minor military aid that doesn't really amount to much. But, if LOS is dropped from Tier 2 to Tier 3, there would be major financial penalties LOS would incur. Not just from the US, but also the EU. Thai products could, and probably would, be boycotted. Stiffer trade barriers in Thailand's way for doing any type of business with anyone, and the baht would lose big time. The sanctions from the US on military aid after the coup were a drop in the bucket, a "token sanction" if you will, and only affected the military. Dropping the country to Tier 3 would have serious financial repercussions for the entire country.

Understand now?

Well, I guess we're going to find out if your crystal ball is accurate. The US just downgraded Thailand to Tier 3.

Really?

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/20/thailand-qatar-downgraded-human-trafficking-report

"US demotes Thailand and Qatar for abysmal human trafficking records" Edited June 20, 2014 by mesquite

[Fat Haggis]

HRW has already been scathing of the Thai Junta today due to the exodus of the Cambodians

[Fat Haggis]

Too late!! They've been downgraded, this might be the boot up the arse they need to sort this out.

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/20/thailand-qatar-downgraded-human-trafficking-report

[Unwisemonkey]

And not one American was told to mind his business. 5555

[plachon]

Too late!! They've been downgraded, this might be the boot up the arse they need to sort this out.

http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/20/thailand-qatar-downgraded-human-trafficking-report

You beat me to it FH. This puts Thailand on a par with the likes of Saudi Arabia, North Korea and Iran in their treatment of workers, although I can't imagine too many foreign workers queuing up to work in North Korea. It certainly ought to sober the minds of those who imagined Thailand as some sort of liberal, culturally easy-going and gentle Oriental wonderland economy. This is global neo-liberalism taken to its extreme, where workers can be exploited as mere objects of economic reward to employers, and are de-humanised as not just "foreign alien labour", but literally treated worse than animals to be killed or brutalised without repercussions. Well, maybe the repercussions have just begun, starting at a govt to govt level, but hopefully followed up closely by concerned consumers who will selectively boycott any companies implicated, starting with the obvious - CP Foods.

[Thai at Heart]

Well coconuts on Facebook had that they have been demoted to tier 3.

I guess slavery shrimp are going to get a lot cheaper.

[Fat Haggis]

Plachon, I've been all over the Middle East, and it's a cultural thing, all the Arabs I've seen treat their immigrants like something you'd wipe off your shoes.. pretty shocking, I've even been in one of our old facilitators house in Kuwait and he was screaming at the little Philippino cook, as we were waiting a bit longer than usual for our food, there was 14 of us to cook for, the poor lass was horrified, and one of our lads had to tell the Kuwaiti to "wind his f-king neck in".

[Just1Voice]

Well, not to worry, Thailand will now file a defamation suit against the US for making them look bad and lose face. lol

[taony]

Justice Ministry deputy permanent secretary Chanchao Chaiyanukij said Thai law enforcement on human trafficking had improved.

"We have reports on prosecution of human traffickers and we showed the US that we have put in a lot of effort to fight trafficking," he said. "I think we will escape from sanctions, and be upgraded."

-- The Nation 2014-06-20

Guys, remember, just pretend this guy never said that. We don't want him to lose face. Ignore it and everything will be alright.

-*I typed this myself*-

[BestBitterPhuket]

Thailand were downgraded. Now they have an incentive to clean up here also.

[nidieunimaitre]

God help us all if they cut Thailands pornography exports, the economy will plummet!

Or even worse.... the rest of the world could cut it's exports of sexpats to thailand.