Agriculture ministry approves master plan for fishery workers

[Lite Beer]

Agriculture ministry approves master plan for fishery workers
By Digital Content

BANGKOK, July 5 -- The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry as well as state officials and the public sector involved in Thailand’s fishery industry on Saturday approved a master plan designed to solve problems for workers engaged in the industry.

The master plan was agreed on only two weeks after the US downgraded the kingdom, after accusing Thailand of allowing forced labour and human trafficking to remain unresolved.

The plan was approved by representatives of state officials and the public sector during a meeting chaired by Permanent Secretary for Agriculture and Cooperatives Chavalit Chukajorn.

Mr Chavalit said after the meeting ended that participants approved the master plan, proposed by the Ministry’s Fisheries Department.

The plan would be forwarded to a policy committee for further consideration.

The master plan contained guidelines for good labour practices and laid out regulations for Thai fishing trawlers prohibiting violations of fishing laws and human trafficking, he said.

These two issues were urgent and have to be implemented immediately, he said.

Other issues include a plan to speed up registering of migrant workers in the fishing industry, providing support for inspection of trawlers and workers, providing training to concerned officials, and to boost confidence for Thai fishing products overseas, said Mr Chavalit.

Mongkol Sukcharoenkana, vice president of Thai Fisheries Association, said that the approved roadmap was a fine plan and contains proactive measures, as Thailand has been attacked without response in the past.

On June 20, Washington downgraded Thailand in its annual report on Trafficking in Persons as it dropped the country to “Tier 3” after holding the kingdom on the Tier 2 warning list for four consecutive years.

The US has accused five Thai industries - shrimp, textiles, sugarcane, pornographic materials and fisheries - of using child and forced labor. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2014-07-05

[ChrisY1]

A master plan, concieved in some 3 weeks, to solve human trafficking and slavery in the fishing industry.....sure....it's a simple problem really, (it Thailands mind), and the US and Europe will love it.

Good luck with it....don't forget to police/enforce it after legislation!!

[UbonRatch]

<sup>"The master plan contained guidelines for good labour practices and laid out regulations for Thai fishing trawlers prohibiting violations of fishing laws and human trafficking, he said.

These two issues were urgent and have to be implemented immediately, he said."</sup>

Well that's an incredibly deep and well thought out plan, if I must say so. I guess it cost 2 million baht to write and involved 3 Chula professors including a road traffic expert who maintains cars should stop at zebra crossings.

Well Done! Guys. Amazing insight.

What's next, the wheel? Again?

[jaltsc]

"The Agriculture and Cooperatives Ministry as well as state officials and the public sector involved in Thailand’s fishery industry on Saturday approved a master plan designed to solve problems for workers engaged in the industry."

This reminds me of the law against tobacco smoking that was passed 3 years ago in China. Looked good, until one realized that there was neither a regulatory commission set up to enforce the law nor specific punishment for those who broke the law. From everything I've heard from friends who have visited China lately, every restaurant, bar and public facility is still filled with smoke. This legislation in the fishing industry should have about the same success.

Edited July 5, 2014 by jaltsc

[Fiddlesticks]

Ah, a MASTER plan! Sounds like the same people involved in improving driving practices here in Thailand. All about regulations and ZILCH about ENFORCEMENT! All the rules in the world don't mean a thing without the ability or the WILLINGNESS to enforce such regulations. Case in point, look at the roads you are driving on. No enforcement at all.

Thailand certainly loves to make rules. They just don't know what they are supposed to do with them.

[Pib]

Sound like the Thai govt has some motivation now to address the problem.

[noitom]

Thailand has been "attacked" with no response, so they are now responding with a "fine" plan developed in three weeks with "proactive" measures. Just exactly what are those measures? More importantly, do Thais , the Thai press, or anyone in the military know how to stand up in front of a room of professionals and explain the true basis of the problem of human trafficking slavery and labor in the fisheries industries? Or do they just blame it on others? What are the root causes in Thai society and how do these causes align with this "fine detail roadmap plan" developed in the last three weeks? Is the Thai press digging and pushing to know the answers to these questions?

[spidermike007]

Mr Chavalit said after the meeting ended that participants approved the master plan, proposed by the Ministry’s Fisheries Department.

The plan would be forwarded to a policy committee for further consideration.

The master plan contained guidelines for good labour practices and laid out regulations for Thai fishing trawlers prohibiting violations of fishing laws and human trafficking, he said.

These two issues were urgent and have to be implemented immediately, he said.

Other issues include a plan to speed up registering of migrant workers in the fishing industry, providing support for inspection of trawlers and workers, providing training to concerned officials, and to boost confidence for Thai fishing products overseas, said Mr Chavalit.

Mongkol Sukcharoenkana, vice president of Thai Fisheries Association, said that the approved roadmap was a fine plan and contains proactive measures, as Thailand has been attacked without response in the past.

-- TNA 2014-07-05

Did George Carlin make us this skit? They talk about guidelines. Do you think a guy who owns several trawlers, and has been hiring migrant workers, and getting away with treating them as slaves, for many years, is going to just all of a sudden start following these recommended guidelines? Could the response have possibly been any weaker? What about enforcement? Countries that practice accepted forms of civilization typically rely on enforcement, rather than goodwill. If this same owner was locked up in prison for 20 years, for human trafficking crimes, and fined ten million baht, do you think maybe things would start to change?

Spidermike

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[englishoak]

For a master plan its a little light on details and a regulatory, dedicated and answerable taskforce....

[selftaopath]

Mr Chavalit said after the meeting ended that participants approved the master plan, proposed by the Ministry’s Fisheries Department.

The plan would be forwarded to a policy committee for further consideration.

The master plan contained guidelines for good labour practices and laid out regulations for Thai fishing trawlers prohibiting violations of fishing laws and human trafficking, he said.

These two issues were urgent and have to be implemented immediately, he said.

Other issues include a plan to speed up registering of migrant workers in the fishing industry, providing support for inspection of trawlers and workers, providing training to concerned officials, and to boost confidence for Thai fishing products overseas, said Mr Chavalit.

Mongkol Sukcharoenkana, vice president of Thai Fisheries Association, said that the approved roadmap was a fine plan and contains proactive measures, as Thailand has been attacked without response in the past.

-- TNA 2014-07-05

Did George Carlin make us this skit? They talk about guidelines. Do you think a guy who owns several trawlers, and has been hiring migrant workers, and getting away with treating them as slaves, for many years, is going to just all of a sudden start following these recommended guidelines? Could the response have possibly been any weaker? What about enforcement? Countries that practice accepted forms of civilization typically rely on enforcement, rather than goodwill. If this same owner was locked up in prison for 20 years, for human trafficking crimes, and fined ten million baht, do you think maybe things would start to change?

Spidermike

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I suspect Thailand will be on "Tier 3" for a very long time. Do people who are supposed to be educated really believe the rest of the world believes such tripe?

[BSJ]

"The US has accused five Thai industries - shrimp, textiles, sugarcane, pornographic materials and fisheries - of using child and forced labor. (MCOT online news)"

Are they talking about planting or harvesting. Not sure, but don't they harvest sugar cane with machines now days?

[Stradavarius37]

Hope they can make a difference.

Sent from my iPhone using ThaiVisa app

[spidermike007]

Mr Chavalit said after the meeting ended that participants approved the master plan, proposed by the Ministry’s Fisheries Department.

The plan would be forwarded to a policy committee for further consideration.

The master plan contained guidelines for good labour practices and laid out regulations for Thai fishing trawlers prohibiting violations of fishing laws and human trafficking, he said.

These two issues were urgent and have to be implemented immediately, he said.

Other issues include a plan to speed up registering of migrant workers in the fishing industry, providing support for inspection of trawlers and workers, providing training to concerned officials, and to boost confidence for Thai fishing products overseas, said Mr Chavalit.

Mongkol Sukcharoenkana, vice president of Thai Fisheries Association, said that the approved roadmap was a fine plan and contains proactive measures, as Thailand has been attacked without response in the past.

-- TNA 2014-07-05

Did George Carlin make us this skit? They talk about guidelines. Do you think a guy who owns several trawlers, and has been hiring migrant workers, and getting away with treating them as slaves, for many years, is going to just all of a sudden start following these recommended guidelines? Could the response have possibly been any weaker? What about enforcement? Countries that practice accepted forms of civilization typically rely on enforcement, rather than goodwill. If this same owner was locked up in prison for 20 years, for human trafficking crimes, and fined ten million baht, do you think maybe things would start to change?

Spidermike

Chaiyaphum, Thailand

Sent from my iPad using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

I suspect Thailand will be on "Tier 3" for a very long time. Do people who are supposed to be educated really believe the rest of the world believes such tripe?

No. Absolutely not. It is dispensed for the weak of mind. And a certain percentage of people always believe something they see in print. That is the hope of the children who put out this material. A percentage will buy into it. So, if you are able to get the media to go along with the story, why not put it out there. Those of us who are in possession of our discriminative faculties find it to be akin to comedy hour. Hence the Carlin reference previously. All one can do is hope that there are earnest people out there who really want to see change, and have the power to make it so. May the rest of this drivel fall upon deaf ears. And let us hope the authorities are able to find judges, and prosecutors who have not sold their souls, and are willing to make sure guys that traffic in people spend the rest of their lives behind bars, being someones girlfriend.

[Baerboxer]

A master plan, concieved in some 3 weeks, to solve human trafficking and slavery in the fishing industry.....sure....it's a simple problem really, (it Thailands mind), and the US and Europe will love it.

Good luck with it....don't forget to police/enforce it after legislation!!

Many years ago, the EU implemented legislation on products derived from hoofed animals. Suppliers had to prove their products came from animals that had been slaughtered in registered slaughter houses with appropriate veterinarian certification. I had several suppliers in Asian countries - China, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand.

Guess which country implemented this first, in about a week?

Simple really. Found a vet, bought a nice stamp and paid him his now regular fee, as one major supplier told me. Nothing at all to do with compliance, all to do with window dressing.

[Oziex1]

"The US has accused five Thai industries - shrimp, textiles, sugarcane, pornographic materials and fisheries - of using child and forced labor. (MCOT online news)"

Are they talking about planting or harvesting. Not sure, but don't they harvest sugar cane with machines now days?

No they cut it by hand in many places in Issan.

[oldsailor35]

Register and list all Fishing boat owners and captains. If they don't do the right thing, take their licences away....Easy!

[oldsailor35]

"The US has accused five Thai industries - shrimp, textiles, sugarcane, pornographic materials and fisheries - of using child and forced labor. (MCOT online news)"

Are they talking about planting or harvesting. Not sure, but don't they harvest sugar cane with machines now days?

No they cut it by hand in many places in Issan.

Not in Thailand, you have to go to countries like Australia to see this kind of technology in action. Here they still do it by hand on comparatively small cane farms. In Australia you will see farms of hundreds of acres.

[Ulic]

Just make fishing a job reserved for Thais.

[djjamie]

Good to see the Junta on top of the game again.

On June 20, Washington downgraded Thailand in its annual report on Trafficking in Persons as it dropped the country to “Tier 3” after holding the kingdom on the Tier 2 warning list for four consecutive years.

Yet the dent in American trade with Thailand especially regarding seafood trade is similar to the dent of a marshmallow hitting an Abraham tank at 100 metres with a velocity of 1000 metres a second. (squared)

For the undedicated…..There is no dent!!! Though with a bonfire the marshmallow would make for a great scout "camp out"