Why Are You Even Here? The Surprising Attitudes of Some Expats in Thailand

[webfact]

US elevates Thailand to best child labour category
The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The United States has recognised Thailand's solid progress in fighting the worst forms of child labour.

In the "Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labour 2014", a new report compiled by the US Department of Labour, Thailand has been put in the "significant advancement" category - the highest category.

Only 13 countries performed well enough to get into this category.

The department's Bureau of International Labour Affairs evaluated 140 countries and territories based on their efforts to reduce child labour and reported on whether they had made significant, moderate, minimal or no advancement.

In the 2013 report, Thailand sat in the "moderate advancement" category.

Thailand's better ranking is based on its evident efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

In the 2014 report, the Bureau of International Labour Affairs said: "Despite political unrest during the year and a military coup in May 2014, the government took actions to address child labour. Thailand made changes to its legal framework to raise the minimum age for agricultural work from 13 to 15 years, and for work on sea fishing vessels from 16 to 18 years.

"It also created a national policy committee, including several subcommittees and task forces, to improve policy formulation, interagency coordination, and implementation regarding migrant workers and human-trafficking problems."

The bureau added: "The government funded and participated in multiple programmes that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labour, including its worst forms."

Thailand, moreover, implemented social programmes that aimed to increase access to education for children from marginalised groups who are most vulnerable to labour exploitation, it noted.

The bureau has, however, raised some concerns about child-labour issues in Thailand.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/breakingnews/US-elevates-Thailand-to-best-child-labour-category-30269971.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-01

[clockman]

So has the situation changed, or not?

[chainarong]

Thailand certainly has plenty of records that you'd be hard pressed to beat , not the one's that anyone would be proud of mind , the question is, how did Thailand get into this low life lane in the first place , the seed of filth was sown long before the students beat the last Junta and it has been a part of the Thai culture for decades, any money to be made was always made by the elite or the Military , the last Junta (before students) one candidate ( always a General ) , was so up to his eyelids in filth he actually pulled out of the race when it became public knowledge of the sordid world he run , so I wonder where the best place is to start looking on kiddy stuff , human trafficking., animal parts etc.

[zaphod reborn]

So has the situation changed, or not?

Sure it's changed. It's easy once Nike and Adidas moved their manufacturing to Vietnam and Indonesia. Still some child labor in the fishing industry, but it's negligible compared to slave labor.

[webfact]

CHILD LABOUR
US elevates Thailand to best child-labour category
THE NATION

BANGKOK: -- THE UNITED States has recognised Thailand's solid progress in fighting the worst forms of child labour.

In the "Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labour 2014", a new report compiled by the US Department of Labour, Thailand has been put in the "significant advancement" category - the highest category.

Only 13 countries performed well enough to get into this category.

The department's Bureau of International Labour Affairs evaluated 140 countries and territories based on their efforts to reduce child labour and reported on whether they had made significant, moderate, minimal or no advancement.

In the 2013 report, Thailand sat in the "moderate advancement" category.

Thailand's better ranking is based on its evident efforts to eliminate the worst forms of child labour.

In the 2014 report, the Bureau of International Labour Affairs said: "Despite political unrest during the year and a military coup in May 2014, the government took actions to address child labour. Thailand made changes to its legal framework to raise the minimum age for agricultural work from 13 to 15 years, and for work on sea fishing vessels from 16 to 18 years.

"It also created a national policy committee, including several subcommittees and task forces, to improve policy formulation, interagency coordination, and implementation regarding migrant workers and human-trafficking problems."

The bureau added: "The government funded and participated in multiple programmes that include the goal of eliminating or preventing child labour, including its worst forms."

Thailand, moreover, implemented social programmes that aimed to increase access to education for children from marginalised groups who are most vulnerable to labour exploitation, it noted.

The bureau has, however, raised some concerns about child-labour issues in Thailand.

It said children in Thailand continued to work in agriculture, including in the shrimp and seafood-processing sector and in the worst forms of child labour, including commercial sex exploitation.

The bureau also mentions child Muay Thai boxers in the report, saying children as young as seven are paid to fight using no protective equipment.

It said Thailand remained weak in its enforcement efforts in the fishing, agriculture, manufacturing and home-based business and informal sectors. The government also lacked nationwide data on child labour, which impeded the effectiveness of policies and programmes.

Meanwhile, the team investigating human-trafficking and money-laundering cases in Padang Besar Police Station's jurisdiction yesterday released its report to the Office of the Attorney-General.

The cases created big headlines early this year, prompting various relevant authorities to dig deep into the scandal.

At present, courts have approved arrest warrants for 153 suspects for their alleged role in human trafficking. Of these suspects, 62 remain on the run.

Courts have approved arrest warrants for 79 suspects for their alleged role in money laundering. Of them, 39 remain on the run.
Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/US-elevates-Thailand-to-best-child-labour-category-30270019.html


-- The Nation 2015-10-02

[arthurboy]

It seems that the report has focused on the legal paper changes that have been made.

The second half of the article, regarding concerns, is far more telling. Children are still being exploited across the board.

Thailand is famous for its weak or non-existent law enforcement.

Is this - will it be - just another example of all talk and no action?

[Sydebolle]

The same country is complaining about diesel-engine emissions on non-American cars. When does anybody tell the Yankees to mind their own business - there is plenty of unfinished in that category left for generations to come .....

[ldiablo]

Looks like the US is starting to suck up to Thailand to try and steer them away from China.

[bendejo]

Message is: you are not worst, but you still allow child labor.

Burmese or Cambodian kids who are working in shops instead getting an education is something we probably see every day, but are unaware of what's going on.

[joebrown]

The same country is complaining about diesel-engine emissions on non-American cars. When does anybody tell the Yankees to mind their own business - there is plenty of unfinished in that category left for generations to come .....

1623507_889127357821971_2739282126253369172_n.jpg

What's a picture of 2 'smoking' lorries got to do with child labour issues....please tell us.

Maybe you'd rather there were no world 'watchdogs' involved in curbing abuses in child/slave labour?

[anon467367354]

I'll nominate the US in leading the world in protecting child rapists in Afghanistan.

Get involved to protect a child and get tossed out of the military.

I guess the US can claim to be the protector of the largest source of opium too.

What is their issue with Thailand and who put them in charge anyway?

[jlwilliamsjr18]

Great once more the focus is on the city...Agricultural areas are rampant with child labor.

[Krataiboy]

US elevates Thailand to best child-labour category

Er, no. Best of the worst.

[FangFerang]

My US government, once more, leads the way in political prevarication, fact mincing, and mis-dis-anti-information.

[Lopchan]

Why don't the world PO-lice look in their own back yard and target the American owned companies which exploit child labour and sweat shop labour practices to produce their merchandise and bolster their profits..?

Seriously, sick to death of the hypocrisy that comes out of that country and the drivel out of the mouths of those who lap up the brainwashing and propaganda it spews.

America, please shut up!

[Baerboxer]

I'll nominate the US in leading the world in protecting child rapists in Afghanistan.

Get involved to protect a child and get tossed out of the military.

I guess the US can claim to be the protector of the largest source of opium too.

What is their issue with Thailand and who put them in charge anyway?

They put themselves in charge mate. Like Britain, France, Spain before them, self appointed world policemen want to lay the law down for everybody else, but of course these laws, rules and decrees do not apply to themselves.

All the countries started out with noble ideas, and then the politicians / ruling elites corrupted it.

[losworld]

The same country is complaining about diesel-engine emissions on non-American cars. When does anybody tell the Yankees to mind their own business - there is plenty of unfinished in that category left for generations to come .....

1623507_889127357821971_2739282126253369172_n.jpg

Sadly more hypocrisy. Diesel trucks long exempt from pending standards and accounting for much more pollutants than autos ever have.

[khunken]

Why don't the world PO-lice look in their own back yard and target the American owned companies which exploit child labour and sweat shop labour practices to produce their merchandise and bolster their profits..?

Seriously, sick to death of the hypocrisy that comes out of that country and the drivel out of the mouths of those who lap up the brainwashing and propaganda it spews.

America, please shut up!

Exactly.

Who actually are the direct & indirect users of child labour in a number of Asian countries? US multinational companies, that's who. Oh and EU multinationals are not far behind.

It's not the US world police that target the multinationals - it's consumer groups & NGOs.

It should be said that there is little evidence that Thailand is still hosting sweatshops. Children who help their parents with agricultural planting and harvesting are not exploited just as those who serve behind counters during holidays to help their parents are not being exploited.

[nakhonandy]

Well back in my wifes village all the children go to school.

Sure they help out on the farm when out of school, hardly child labour in the terms of any rational person.

When I was at school I used to work on a farm in the evenings/weekends from the age of 10, normal where I come from.

Child labour may exist in Thailand but I have never seen it, at least they seem to be doing something about it legally.

Whether the police enforce it is of course another issue.

[farangmick]

Thought from the headline that I could now get a dozen top quality 10 yr olds to work the house and garden for some sticky rice and a few bottles of green Fanta.

[farangmick]

Thought from the headline that I could now get a dozen top quality 10 yr olds to work the house and garden for some sticky rice and a few bottles of green Fanta.