HUMAN TRAFFICKING
Groups plan to clear their 'smeared' reputation
Petchanet Pratruangkrai,
Erich Parpart
The Nation

Fishery producers want to hit back after US trafficking downgrade

BANGKOK: -- Eight seafood and fishery associations will today reveal their action plan on labour conditions and send a decisive message against the United States' decision to downgrade Thailand to "Tier 3" in its annual Trafficking in Persons Report.

The Bank of Thailand and businesses groups have voiced concern over the move, saying it has the potential to hamper the country's export sector especially the shrimp industry.

The eight associations met yesterday to draw up a 'roadmap' as a whole supply chain, in a bid to defend themselves against the report.

Poj Aramwattananont, president of the Thai Frozen Foods Association, said all associations agreed to show the truth of Thai shrimp industry and related industries today.

"We [Thai seafood manufacturers] need to convey correct information to the public after the British newspaper 'The Guardian' and the US accused Thai food and related industries of employing illegal workers," he said.

90 days before news of sanctions

The eight associations are the Thai Fishery Association, Thai Fishmeal Producers Association, Thai Feed Mill Association, Thai Frozen Foods Association, Thai Food Processors' Association, Thai Shrimp Association, Thai Tuna Industry Association and Thai Overseas Fisheries Association.

While waiting for the US president's decision within 90 days on whether to sanction Thai traders, the associations and each company will urgently create understanding among trading partners and agencies.

Mongkol Sukcharoenkana, deputy president of the National Fisheries Association of Thailand, said the association would reorganise the fishing boat and fishing system soon to prevent illegal labour problems.

He also called on government agencies to help solve the problem of "outside" fishing boats. About 20 per cent of fishing trawlers in Thailand are not members of the organisations.

The Guardian report was not based on facts, he claimed, as the source of its article was a non-Thai fishing boat and not an association member.

Kevalin Wangpichayasuk, assistant managing director of Kasikorn Research Centre, said there was still no sign of recovery in the shrimp export industry, which has been plagued by the early mortality syndrome disease since 2012. Blacklisting by the TIP report had the potential to make things even worse for the fishing industry.

"We now begin to have a shortage of raw materials and our market share has declined from 30 per cent to 19.9 per cent while the downgrade to Tier 3 will lower demand sentiment and further lower our market share," she said.

Most of Thailand's market share in the export of shrimp to the US has been lost to competitors including Indonesia, Vietnam, India and Ecuador, she said.

Tackle problem seriously: Prasarn

Prasarn Triratvorakul, governor of the central bank, said the 2014 TIP Report would affect the country's image and reputation especially during a period of economic recovery. Economic growth may slow down.

However, the country was in the process of making the US understand that there were some industries with labour problems - not all industries. If successful, the private sector's business would not be affected.

Thailand should tackle the labour trafficking problem seriously, he said.

Though it's too early to assess the impact on Thai exports this year, export growth for the full year should be lower than 4 per cent, he said.

Paiboon Ponsuwanna, an adviser on the Thai National Shippers Council committee, said the TIP Report had given Thailand a bad image.

The government needed to draw up measures to solve the labour problem for other enterprises though US traders had not banned Thai goods.

Otherwise, it could affect exports in the future, he said.

Primarily, Thai food exports to the US should not be affected by the report, but due to the low supply of shrimp, exports to the US would drop this year, he said.


-- The Nation 2014-06-24

To bad that you can't slap a defamation charge on the U.S and guardian to silence them and keep everything under the carpet. Must be really eating away at them.

with all this effort to deny; what has been know for YEARS..why not just stop and make the slavery transparent?..Thais are really good at the white lie, but still dont understand that there are many people out there much smarter than the elite slavemasters

Hit back with what?

Outside boats that aren't part of an association? If that isn't the most pathetic explanation for trafficking and exploitation. If they joined the association it would all be OK?

The words horse bolted and stable door spring to mind!

I can't wait to see this act of retaliation from those Thai Fishery folks.

I am really tired to hear the same blabla everyday. Action speaks louder than words.

Sent from my i-mobile IQ XA using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

Yeah, right!

Go fish!!!

"'The Guardian' and the US accused Thai food and related industries of employing illegal workers," he said."

They weren't accused of using illegal workers. They are accused of using slaves.

"The Guardian report was not based on facts, he claimed, "...

Denial isn't going to help. Use the 90 days much better. Make a start with really rooting out the exploitation and jailing the horrible criminals. They are amongst the lowest of trash.

"We [Thai seafood manufacturers] need to convey correct information to the public after the British newspaper 'The Guardian' and the US accused Thai food and related industries of employing illegal workers," he said."

I think you mean exposed rather than accused.

Ahh, the ole our image has been tarnished line. Darn you America and Britain for telling it how it is!

At the risk of continually repeating ourselves here on TVF, if Thailand wishes to compete on the world stage, it must comply by the rules set by the international community , not Thailand's rules , Thailand continually breaches international standards on all levels from People trafficking , refugee's, environmental, drug trafficking, international labour requirements etc, it is not good enough to apply Thai logic, this is not exceptable and it is time for Thailand to step up, be counted and show some maturity.

"Piaboon Ponsuwanna an adviser on the Thai national shippers council committee, said the TIP report had given Thailand a bad image."

Sorry but the TIP report has not given Thailand a bad image, They have done a great job of doing that themselves over the years, and the TIP report has further exposed the problem, and the country doesn't like having the truth waved in their faces and for all the world to see.

Now it's time to try and save a little face and lock up ALL of those that are involved in the "illegal labor" (a nice sanitized word for slave labor) and then start to build a clean green and transparent work force.

Early Mortality Syndrome...in the shrimp or the slaves?

At the risk of continually repeating ourselves here on TVF, if Thailand wishes to compete on the world stage, it must comply by the rules set by the international community , not Thailand's rules , Thailand continually breaches international standards on all levels from People trafficking , refugee's, environmental, drug trafficking, international labour requirements etc, it is not good enough to apply Thai logic, this is not exceptable and it is time for Thailand to step up, be counted and show some maturity.

Good post Chainarong.

Thainess is a lame excuse for doing nothing. Thailand needs to stop playing the victim. That card has been overused and is looking very dogeared.

International standards have no place for 'thainess, britishness, americaness or any other from of '....ness' you wish to invent.

Thailand was warned, warned again, then warned again...and now the bite.

Image Image Image, that's all that matters. Time to grow up if you want to play in the "Real World"

Maybe the RTN could help with ensuring standards are met, oh, forgot they are busy elsewhere.

"Piaboon Ponsuwanna an adviser on the Thai national shippers council committee, said the TIP report had given Thailand a bad image."

Sorry but the TIP report has not given Thailand a bad image, They have done a great job of doing that themselves over the years, and the TIP report has further exposed the problem, and the country doesn't like having the truth waved in their faces and for all the world to see.

Now it's time to try and save a little face and lock up ALL of those that are involved in the "illegal labor" (a nice sanitized word for slave labor) and then start to build a clean green and transparent work force.

Beat me to it ;-)

Gotta give it to the Thais, the lengths they can go to defend a blatant crime when caught out.

They do love a good whine of how unfair being caught is and after pretend theres some kind of uncalled for insult to their reputation when its slapped all over the place evidence and all its been going on for years. And we are supposed to feel sorry for the fishing vessels or captains doing it ? tough luck should have thought of that while buying and selling and/or killing these slave labourers then, couldnt care less if they go out of business, its nothing to what some have done to their workers.

I hope they make a real big deal over it, the bigger the better..... go on strike, refuse to supply prawns or fish chum see how that goes, the world and media is watching and running out of patience with hearing excuses.

It would be better if they kept quiet and get about really cleaning

the mess up,maybe if exports =money,start to fail they will do something

to rectify the terrible situation,nobody with any morals is going to buy

anything that is produced on the backs of slaves.

regards worgeordie

I would not use the term "fight back" if the behavior is intended to comply with international labor standards. Like you are being robbed, and you "fight back" by tossing wallet at robber. Or the Woody Allen movie where he boasts about fight he got in: "Yeah, I hit him in the knee with my face!".

Will they actually do something right, or is this just more hot air?

"We [Thai seafood manufacturers] need to convey correct information to the public after the British newspaper 'The Guardian' and the US accused Thai food and related industries of employing illegal workers," he said."

I think you mean exposed rather than accused.

How are you going to explain the murders committed on these boats? Yes,MURDER!

How many workers had seen one of theirs being murdered? Because throwing someone overboard is also murder.

Clean up and take action. Stop crying like a kid that's not allowed to bully anymore.

You have been warned for many years and did not do enough. You did not take it serious. Now your industry has to action, and fast. Otherwise you will feel it.

It is not that difficult. It's a question of will.

"Piaboon Ponsuwanna an adviser on the Thai national shippers council committee, said the TIP report had given Thailand a bad image."

Sorry but the TIP report has not given Thailand a bad image, They have done a great job of doing that themselves over the years, and the TIP report has further exposed the problem, and the country doesn't like having the truth waved in their faces and for all the world to see.

Now it's time to try and save a little face and lock up ALL of those that are involved in the "illegal labor" (a nice sanitized word for slave labor) and then start to build a clean green and transparent work force.

Well put, maybe they should take heed of this quote;

Tackle problem seriously: Prasarn

Prasarn Triratvorakul, governor of the central bank, said the 2014 TIP Report would affect the country's image and reputation especially during a period of economic recovery. Economic growth may slow down.

Funny how the governor of the central bank is not banging on about image, just results.

The report is a wakeup call All the industries and the government have to do is to show they are doing something not talking about it or complaining that someone else noticed they were doing the wrong thing.

Losing face...again and again and again...day by day...

" want to hit back "

NO, just shame on they.

No smoke without fire. When is this bunch going to grow up, face AND solve the problem instead of 'hitting back' everytime something doesn't suit their fancy.

Thais long to have it their way and play with the big boys. Thais are desperate to cover up their known criminal behavior. Thais can't stand to have anyone outside become aware of their dark activities. Thais perceive that they can manipulate the outside world forever and ever. When that whistle gets blown, they resort to showing their true stupidity and criminal behavior. This story report that they have every intention of attempting to persuade and manipulate thoughts and perceptions about them, but no intention of doing anything about it except develop a "roadmap." Another Thai news story earlier reported that, although they are developing this roadmap, no destinations are included. Typical Thai double stepping and blustering, puffing, pointing, and exclaiming.

It's interesting to see that if you are part of a fishery association then you must automatically be immune from any wrongdoing. Good thinking.

Can we vote to have Ameriiiiiccccaas removed from this earth... Peace for everyone.

The Thai military government should step in here in the Thai fishery trade. It's not a public relations problem. It's a criminal activity and racketeering issue. The Thai military should step in and clean it up. Put a few Thai generals in charge of each association and plant and figure out what they are actually doing to hide activity and traffic in humans. The Thai military should be talking to workers as well. Get at the truth. Stop the crime in Thai fisheries.

1. Got enough associations?

2. If you head an association, you can't buy your way out of court financially when in the international arena, even if you can do so within Thailand.

To many associations with fingers in the same pie, and to many Gordons at the top of such associations expecting not to lose face because they are majorly involved in all the atrocities they well know happen.