Thai Ministries aim to lessen impact of TIP downgrade

[webfact]

HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Ministries aim to lessen impact of TIP downgrade
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- THREE MINISTRIES are working together to help lessen the impact on Thailand after the country was downgraded in the United States' latest annual "Trafficking in Persons" (TIP) report.

The ministries of Labour, Commerce and Foreign Affairs will seek to have Thailand removed from the US blacklist of imports on garments, sugar cane, processed shrimp and fish, said Puntrik Smiti, deputy permanent secretary of the Labour Ministry.

She said yesterday that a memorandum of understanding would be made with the private-sector groups representing those four industries for improvement in working conditions and a reduction in child labour.

Puntrik yesterday chaired a meeting of officials from the three ministries as well as trade associations from the relevant sectors at the Labour Ministry to discuss measures in response to the TIP report.

Songsak Saichuea, director-general of the Foreign Affairs Ministry's Department of American and South Pacific Affairs, said a short-term measure called for Thailand to submit to the US reports on what had been done in the fight against human trafficking, particularly regarding child labour.

This was aimed at convincing the US that the garment, sugar-cane, processed-shrimp and fishery industries should be removed from the blacklist, said Songsak, who was one of the meeting participants.

The US Department of State last Friday downgraded Thailand, Malaysia and Venezuela to Tier 3, the lowest class, for poor records in their efforts to fight human trafficking in their countries. With the downgrade, Thailand risks US economic sanctions.

General Prayuth Chan-ocha, leader of the military's ruling National Council for Peace and Order, has expressed concern over the possible negative impact on Thailand of the TIP report, said Yongyuth Mayalarp, a spokesman for the junta.

Prayuth has instructed the ministries of Foreign Affairs, Labour and Public Health to take appropriate action in response to the US downgrade, the spokesman said.

-- The Nation 2014-06-24

[Thai at Heart]

The ministries of Labour, Commerce and Foreign Affairs will seek to have Thailand removed from the US blacklist of imports on garments, sugar cane, processed shrimp and fish, said Puntrik Smiti, deputy permanent secretary of the Labour Ministry.

They haven't been officially blacklisted yet have they?

[Bluespunk]

"She said yesterday that a memorandum of understanding would be made with the private-sector groups representing those four industries for improvement in working conditions and a reduction in child labour."

A memorandum of understanding is not good enough. There needs to be a rigorous enforcement of slavery/trafficking in people laws. If there are loopholes they need to be closed. If new laws are required then Enact them. Prosecute the guilty and gaol them. Fine the companies punitively and make it clear that trafficking is utterly unacceptable in Thailand.

Take out the big stick and use it. Harshly.

[EricBerg]

If the government approaches this problem as energeticly as some others it would pass laws against child labor and then actively chase those breaking the laws. Traffickers sent to prison for years will be the best way to prevent others from staying or going in that "business".

It should be easy to check Thai trawlers and the people on them. So far the business is very profitable with hardly no risk of arrest.

[Chang_paarp]

The ministries of Labour, Commerce and Foreign Affairs will seek to have Thailand removed from the US blacklist of imports on garments, sugar cane, processed shrimp and fish, said Puntrik Smiti, deputy permanent secretary of the Labour Ministry.

They haven't been officially blacklisted yet have they?

The black listing is automatic when they achieve tier 3. It is part of the legislation that creates the report. Another part of the legislation is the automatic downgrading after 4 years on tier 2 watch status which is why Thailand is now on tier 3. They thought their "special status" would work, apparently not.

All they have to do get off tier 3 is to actually do something about slave labour in the industries mentioned. Talking about it does not cut it with TIF nor with any of the other countries that take notice of these reports.

[timewilltell]

So the Ministries are going to enter into a MOU with the leading companies in these industries to self police child labour and slavery.

With such prompt, effective and aggressive action I am sure the problem will soon be eradicated from Thailand and the moral objections will immediately be assuaged.

May as well carry on giving rapists and murderers a slap on the wrist and easy passage out of Thailand. That has proven to be just as effective.

Do the people involved really think that the rest of the world is so stupid as to not see through all the bull and pretence?

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

[HappyinNE]

"She said yesterday that a memorandum of understanding would be made with the private-sector groups representing those four industries for improvement in working conditions and a reduction in child labour."

How about eliminating child labor? All this BS and not doing anything is what got you on Tier 3. Have to actually do something. In my opinion have to do lots.

[noitom]

Thais are nailing it. They will put the fox in the chicken coop and hire the law firm Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe. The Thais will self police the criminal behavior that is endemic in the culture. The Thai military needs to step in and clean this up before the private charlatans really screw up.

[wandasloan]

The black listing is automatic when they achieve tier 3. It is part of the legislation that creates the report. Another part of the legislation is the automatic downgrading after 4 years on tier 2 watch status which is why Thailand is now on tier 3. They thought their "special status" would work, apparently not.

All they have to do get off tier 3 is to actually do something about slave labour in the industries mentioned. Talking about it does not cut it with TIF nor with any of the other countries that take notice of these reports.

No, sir. Action is not automatic, but requires the president to sign off on it. In almost all cases, the president does NOT sign off on it. There is almost no chance he will agree to any punishment against Thailand (or Malaysia).

I think you and others are confused in using the term "black listing". There is no such thing. The "Tier 3 listing" is the blacklist, there's nothing else that happens "automatically" other than naming and shaming. I don't know where this "blacklist" idea came from but it's not involved with TIP.

There are a tiny few things the president can do under this law (but probably will not) such as voting "no" if Thailand wants to borrow money from the IMF or the World Bank. Trade sanctions can NOT be applied.

.

[Thai at Heart]

So the Ministries are going to enter into a MOU with the leading companies in these industries to self police child labour and slavery.

With such prompt, effective and aggressive action I am sure the problem will soon be eradicated from Thailand and the moral objections will immediately be assuaged.

May as well carry on giving rapists and murderers a slap on the wrist and easy passage out of Thailand. That has proven to be just as effective.

Do the people involved really think that the rest of the world is so stupid as to not see through all the bull and pretence?

Sent from my iPad using ThaiVisa app

Ground breaking stuff. Slavery is illegal. If they could self police it, they would have achieved it already.

[Thai at Heart]

The black listing is automatic when they achieve tier 3. It is part of the legislation that creates the report. Another part of the legislation is the automatic downgrading after 4 years on tier 2 watch status which is why Thailand is now on tier 3. They thought their "special status" would work, apparently not.

All they have to do get off tier 3 is to actually do something about slave labour in the industries mentioned. Talking about it does not cut it with TIF nor with any of the other countries that take notice of these reports.

No, sir. Action is not automatic, but requires the president to sign off on it. In almost all cases, the president does NOT sign off on it. There is almost no chance he will agree to any punishment against Thailand (or Malaysia).

I think you and others are confused in using the term "black listing". There is no such thing. The "Tier 3 listing" is the blacklist, there's nothing else that happens "automatically" other than naming and shaming. I don't know where this "blacklist" idea came from but it's not involved with TIP.

There are a tiny few things the president can do under this law (but probably will not) such as voting "no" if Thailand wants to borrow money from the IMF or the World Bank. Trade sanctions can NOT be applied.

.

That's what I understood.

[misterderp]

this will change nothing. if laws are passed, in 2 months it will not be enforced. people want their cheap stuff and the immigrants have no rights. police will continues to exchange silence for currency and it will be business as usual.

and before saying "slavery is illegal". well taxation is slavery so why isn't that illegal yet?

Edited June 24, 2014 by misterderp

[espinoza]

"She said yesterday that a memorandum of understanding would be made with the private-sector groups representing those four industries for improvement in working conditions and a reduction in child labour." Why do they just want to reduce the child labour ??? This exploits the real problem in Thailand. They just want to reduce the child labour to please the EU and USA. They do not want to exterminate the child labour. Why ????? The Buddhism or the hunt for money ???

[espinoza]

The ministries of Labour, Commerce and Foreign Affairs will seek to have Thailand removed from the US blacklist of imports on garments, sugar cane, processed shrimp and fish, said Puntrik Smiti, deputy permanent secretary of the Labour Ministry.

They haven't been officially blacklisted yet have they?

They have, and it`s just what they deserve. Maybe this can help Thailand to change?

[Thai at Heart]

The ministries of Labour, Commerce and Foreign Affairs will seek to have Thailand removed from the US blacklist of imports on garments, sugar cane, processed shrimp and fish, said Puntrik Smiti, deputy permanent secretary of the Labour Ministry.

They haven't been officially blacklisted yet have they?

They have, and it`s just what they deserve. Maybe this can help Thailand to change?

The embargo can still be waived. .there isn't an official ban on exports yet