The Thailand parliament paved the way for stricter punishments against human trafficking on Thursday. The news comes as many countries have urged Thailand to reform current laws and take a stronger stance against trafficking.

The vote ensures that punishments will fit the crime.

There are two major additions to the law that should ease trafficking in the country. First, the amendment will allow prosecutors to seek fines of up to 400,000 baht and ask for the death penalty in some cases.

The death penalty is meant for serious offenders. Under the new amendment, the death penalty can be sought if a trafficked person dies. Life sentences can also be handed down in this case instead of the death penalty. The person must die while in the custody of the trafficker. There has not been a clarification as to what punishments traffickers will face if a person dies after being sold.

Injuries to a trafficked person will allow for a fine of up to 400,000 baht and up to 20 years in prison.

Thailand has made strong improvements over the last year, bolstering the country’s counter-trafficking efforts. The United States State Department downgraded the country to its lowest category in terms of counter-trafficking efforts last year. The Thai government believes that the country now meets the minimum standards and that its rankings will improve as a result.

Thailand is not the only country that is facing human trafficking issues. Just this week, on Wednesday, Britain also passed a law that would allow for life imprisonment against human traffickers. In Britain alone, the human trafficking market is estimated to be a multi-billion dollar trade and a growing problem.

Thailand’s new amendments will deter trafficking further in the country. Last year, fewer traffickers were arrested, which may mean that trafficking has slowed in the country.

-- 2015-03-27

Laws, laws, laws....Nothing means anything unless it's enforced. I'm sure there are laws on the books, but they don't enforce them.

More laws means increasing income for the corrupt officers...

Around CM and CR, it's mostly Thai police trafficking Burmese building workers and sex workers.

Can't see them arresting themselves.

All they need to do is sweep the bars if they want to help under aged exploited girls. But they won't. Just a bunch of meaningless talk.

Someone begging to be noticed methinks

Sadly, nobody expects the government in Thailand to do the right thing unless coerced . Who will force them to uphold their own laws ?