Thai offenders will become fishing boat crews in Samut Sakhon
By Digital Content



BANGKOK, Nov 27 -- Thailand's Employment and Corrections Departments plans to field inmates who have nearly completed their sentences to work in paid jobs aboard fishing boats initially in Samut Sakhon.

The inmate-supplied fisheries crews will be recruited voluntarily.

Director-General Sumet Mahosot of the Department of Employment said today that he and Corrections Department Director-General Vitaya Suriyawong agreed that inmates who nearly completed their sentences should become fishing crewmen on a voluntary basis, be well informed of working conditions aboard fishing boats beforehand and be protected and paid to prevent forced labour.

The corrections director-general proposed the job go to inmates aged 18-25.

The project will be piloted in Samut Sakhon. Provincial corrections and employment officials will discuss the project implementation next week.

The number of inmates to participate in the project would depend on their own decision, Mr Sumet said. (MCOT online news)


-- TNA 2014-11-27

"Voluntarily" is not a word one usually associates with Thai fishing boats.

Potentially a good idea!

Potentially a good idea!

Potentially it is, but the Thai fishing industry isn't best known for awesome job opportunities and career prospects, it is a good opportunity for some but it's not an easy life by any means.

Been there done that and it's hard graft and dangerous too, lost several friend to the sea it can be a very unforgiving place.

It's not a life for many people. Good luck to the scheme and those who volunteer for it

Does that include traffic ofenders too?

Does that include traffic ofenders too?

No, they will be made to eat fermented fish.

XXXXCLUDING the elite criminals and their spoiled Richie brats of course.... Eh???g

So we shall see Pongpat and cronies on a fishing boat next time. May be even together with Yingluck.

So we shall see Pongpat and cronies on a fishing boat next time. May be even together with Yingluck.

Are you kidding?? Just for the poor and rebellious, even Xtra prepared for innovative thinkers aka people with new ideas, rebellious love couples, aka altogether FACE offenders...

The clink or slave labour ... nice choices

As I have said before, WHY would the fishing boat owners hire Thai crew at 300 baht per day who they would be accountable for, when they can buy people from nearby countries who they could pay much less (assuming of course they live long enough to draw their pay) through slave traders ?

As I have said before, WHY would the fishing boat owners hire Thai crew at 300 baht per day who they would be accountable for, when they can buy people from nearby countries who they could pay much less (assuming of course they live long enough to draw their pay) through slave traders ?

Oh why indeed in this day in age would one who is free, hire a free man for a wage he can live on. When abandoning all humanity and making a purely business decision, capture a man and make him work to your benefit. I wonder what else slaves can do these days, besides fish, apparently I've heard some history books say slaves built some pretty fantastic places in the past.

Of course this will be expanded across many jobs, and to be selected to receive this cheap slave labour will go to the fattest envelopes passed under the table.

Got to hand it to the Thais, they are the best in the world at inventing graft and bribery related concepts.

How's the Red Bull heir, Vorayuth Yoovidhya, going to get his Ferrari on deck?

I wonder who is making a profit to arrange this ?

How's the Red Bull heir, Vorayuth Yoovidhya, going to get his Ferrari on deck?

What's he been convicted of? This is for convicts nearing the end of their sentences.

Voluntary, as in "as part of your sentence you are required to volunteer..."

"Thai government estimates that up to 300,000 people work in its fishing industry, 90% of whom are migrants vulnerable to being duped, trafficked and sold to the sea. Rights groups have long pointed to Thailand's massive labour shortage in its fishing sector, which – along with an increased demand from the US and Europe for cheap prawns – has driven the need for cheap labour.

Human rights activists believe that Thailand's seafood-export industry would probably collapse without slavery. They say, there is little incentive for the Thai government to act and have called for consumers and international retailers to demand action.

Although the Thai government has told the Guardian that "combating human trafficking is a national priority", our undercover investigation unearthed a lawless and unregulated industry run by criminals and the Thai mafia – facilitated by Thai officials and sustained by the brokers who supply cheap migrant labour to boat owners.

Men who have managed to escape from boats supplying CP Foods and other companies like it told the Guardian of horrific conditions, including 20-hour shifts, regular beatings, torture and execution-style killings. Some were at sea for years; some were regularly offered methamphetamines to keep them going. Some had seen fellow slaves murdered in front of them.

Thailand enjoys a prime position as the world's largest prawn exporter in a vast seafood-export industry estimated to be worth some $7.3bn. Through multinationals such as CP Foods, Thailand ships out roughly 500,000 tonnes of prawns every year – nearly 10% of which is farmed by CP Foods alone." http://www.theguardian.com/global-development/2014/jun/10/supermarket-prawns-thailand-produced-slave-labour

Can't expect these parolees to get too much training, as they might take over the boats and run their own scams? Refugee transfers for cash?

The Thai Mafia still involved? Criminals running criminals?

Will they take on drug users who can continue with their drug taking of Yabba/speed?

And in open waters the Captain becomes the General; so any summary executions will be explained or swept under the carpet? Who will care?

Sounds as though they will have the parolees walking the plank, as there is little said about the clean-up in the industry. Practices that have gone on for years, proving very profitable for the captains of these industries are not going to change much with a 'disposable' population delivered to the fishing industry.

5 go out 2 come back

Potentially a good idea!

Potentially it is, but the Thai fishing industry isn't best known for awesome job opportunities and career prospects, it is a good opportunity for some but it's not an easy life by any means.

All the more reason to get ex cons out there then. They should be forcing them to do this in our own countries as opposed to letting them back on the streets to run riot or bludge off the state.

Seems like slavery by another name.

Out with the illegal slaves, in with the legal ones!

Brilliant. Slavery and free labor. Those who conceived of the ludicrous idea: you first.

think these inmates would want to work back breaking jobs? its not as if unemployment rate is high in thailand, most can easily find low level jobs at malls or factories

There's a lot of cynicism here.

" become fishing crewmen on a voluntary basis, be well informed of working conditions aboard fishing boats beforehand and be protected and paid to prevent forced labour."

It's clear that the people who have come up with this idea have thought of what most people are cynical about.

Add just one more safety aspect, ie 3 month reporting, and it all looks to be win-win.

It could be very interesting. Press ganged Thai prison crew worked like slaves may react very differently to the Captains

mistreatment of them, than the current Burmese crew. I hope the captain and first officer can swim well.

Seems like slavery by another name.

As the Thais say, som nam na

XXXXCLUDING the elite criminals and their spoiled Richie brats of course.... Eh???g

Those would probably throw the occasional line from a five star cruise ship.

Now for some police tea money. Find some Burmese offenders and force them onto a fishing boat. Easy money