Foreign media ‘slave labour report unfair’

[onetime]

Article 44 isn't going to cover this one.

[JoeLing]

To be fair, I do think they do have a point.
Getting the ranks mixed up is indeed very unfair reporting.

"Major Problem"? Very, very unfair.
Wouldn't it be much fairer to call it a "General Problem" ?

[trogers]

Now you understand the same thought pattern that frame the definition of 'Defamation' in Thai Law - face saving has priority over truth.

[thesetat2013]

It says a lot that the reporter watch the gov inspection team and still made this report. Thailand can not live that down. Sad to say that for thais money is more important than human lives. You see it every day in the news reports that are printed. God only knows how much goes unreported. I hope the rest of the world looks hard at that report and takes actions that will end the slavery and corruption that still allows it to happen.

Thailand needs to stop blaming others for talking about what they know they have been doing and allowing to happen, People want to point their fingers at P but this has been happening in Thailand for a very long time. P's reaction is uncalled for and very defensive whereas he should be using that information to help put an end to this problem.

[tuanku]

if the real extent of the slave/forced labour situation in the country ever got out there would be real problems. Perhaps the petulance is a smokescreen to try to keep the revelations small and manageable.

[fxe1200]

"But he said the aforementioned wire service's investigative report, which was picked up by local and foreign media outlets last week, could cause many people to believe that there was a major slave labour problem in Thailand and the authorities were not doing anything to stop it."

so what are they going to do?

They can't do nothing. The catch of fish today is less than 10%, of what had been caught back in 1962, due to consequent overfishing. Therefore the fishing business today is only profitable using the work of unpaid slaves.

[tuanku]

Contrast the hysterical childish reaction of the Government with this measured and reasoned reaction from the boss of Thai Union, the firm whose subcontracters were using the slave labour. It proves that the right kind of external pressure can achieve results.

The president of one of the world's biggest seafood exporters expressed frustration and promised change Tuesday after saying an Associated Press investigation that linked slave-peeled shrimp to his company should be a "wake-up call" to the industry.

Thiraphong Chansiri said Thai Union will spend millions of dollars to end reliance on poorly regulated contractors that have been responsible for much of the abuse. He added that under the current system, it's almost impossible to ensure that supply chains are clean.

Like other exporters in Thailand, his company has for years relied heavily on poor migrants working in factories in the port town of Samut Sakhon to peel, gut and devein shrimp.

The AP report revealed Monday that many of these laborers are undocumented and can end up being tricked or sold into factories where they are forced to work 16-hour days with no time off and little or no pay for sometimes years at a time. Some end up locked inside. Others are allowed to go out, but only if they leave their children or spouse behind as a guarantee against running away.

Thiraphong said despite great efforts, Thai Union has been unable to keep labor abuses out of its supply chains. It has tried everything from spot checks by third-party auditors to regular meetings with external suppliers. But problems keep popping up.

"We realized that we could not ensure 100 percent," he said. "Even with the whole system that we established."

He said Thai Union will exclusively use in-house labor for shrimp processing starting Jan. 1, a change he said would cost the company about $5 million.

"This move will provide us with full oversight of all processing stages and will ensure that all workers, whether migrant or Thai, are in safe, legal employment and are treated fairly and with dignity," Thiraphong said.

A day earlier, he called the latest revelations "another wake-up call not only to us, but to the entire industry."

[pookiki]

There have been a chain of recent reports on the issue of migrant labor abuse, trafficking, and now slavery. One of the most interesting reports was by Nestle who admitted to serious issues with labor abuse in its product chain from Thailand. This is first time I can remember where a corporation actually admitted to a such a problem.

One only needs to look at the reason why Thai employers would use migrant labor, indentured labor (little distinction from slaves), and slavery. It all relates to one word - profit! If Thailand engaged in wage reform to establish minimum wages for skilled and unskilled jobs (especially in construction), it would go a long way in providing good jobs for Thais. There are many other issues too numerous to mention here without a lengthy post. Suffice it to say that there is no enforcement of the existing laws to address the issue. When a high-ranking policeman flees the country over alleged 'death threats' related to the trafficking of Rohingya, it is very telling. Of course, the response was denial. How long can Thai authorities keep their head in the sand?

[Mister Fixit]

More head in the sand, 'it's not fair', 'it's not our fault, it's everyone else's', 'bad people attacking Thainess', 'negative image of the country' moaning and whinging.

If it's not Thailand's fault, then just whose it is? The rest of the world?

[chainarong]

If it had been reported from the ABC Australia I could understand as they have a tendency to sensationalize just a little, but to get anything news worthy a little sensational is needed, like me now , what remains clear is where there is smoke there is fire and let's be kind, how much sensationalism has been coming out of the Junta's bunker in the past 12 months , a yearly report on their activities would indicate that it was all sensational with a small coating of realism. ..........

Edited December 20, 2015 by chainarong

[jesimps]

That was going to be their response as sure as night follows day. So predictable in their hypocracy.

[SOTIRIOS]

....what do you call it when the perpetrator plays the victim.....

...scary.....

[gemguy]

Breath taking audacity.

Not only is it refuting the claim .

Much the same a drunk denies he is intoxicated while authorities then show him the breath test results.

But the sheer hide to then call those results irresponsible and damaging to reputation.

What planet are these people on?

Last I looked they are on Tier 3 the lowest of human rights abuse level.

Envoy's repeatedly point it out.

EU ..UN ..US ...

Banned from setting foot in Australia .

And graveyards and military involvement uncovered.

And here we have the delusional sincere looking General not only deny the reckless behaviour but insist the broken laws are not their doing or rewrite the involvement by now calling such claims irresponsible .?

What's to deny.?

It's their " dead slaves"" ...unearthed

It's been documented.

Involvement checked and confirmed.

What next Farangs make it up.?

Not only are these people human rights abuses they clearly deserve the next step for the utter arrogance.

Sanctions

Of course.....but what else do you expect them to say as what they did say is to be expected.

Guaranteed who ever is in power in Thailand, at any given time, would also fire back with the same or similar retorts when criticized.

Hopefully there are people and or entities backing them that have the ability to force the Thai government to address these sort of human rights issues....because talk and more talk seldom if ever resolves theses sort of issues rather action(s) against them are more effective.

The General and his administration are continually bombarded by a long list of social issues that need to be addressed while I am certain the general is continually reminded that being the prime minister of Thailand, whether voted in or by way of a coup, is and always will be a very daunting position to be in ......while no one, including himself, can easily resolve all the crap going on in Thailand with a wave of the hand and some stern and harshly spoken words saying: "Take care of these matters" type of commands directed towards his minions, henchmen and cohorts

Meantime the present administrators are also amongst the best of the best at feigning innocence and denying culpability while diverting the spotlight onto someone or something else so interest in that particular issues eventually wanes and finally, more or less, is swept under the carpet....while they are masters of looking like they are doing something about the issue...but usually just lip service.

Cheers

[ChrisY1]

Contrast the hysterical childish reaction of the Government with this measured and reasoned reaction from the boss of Thai Union, the firm whose subcontracters were using the slave labour. It proves that the right kind of external pressure can achieve results.

The president of one of the world's biggest seafood exporters expressed frustration and promised change Tuesday after saying an Associated Press investigation that linked slave-peeled shrimp to his company should be a "wake-up call" to the industry.

Thiraphong Chansiri said Thai Union will spend millions of dollars to end reliance on poorly regulated contractors that have been responsible for much of the abuse. He added that under the current system, it's almost impossible to ensure that supply chains are clean.

Like other exporters in Thailand, his company has for years relied heavily on poor migrants working in factories in the port town of Samut Sakhon to peel, gut and devein shrimp.

The AP report revealed Monday that many of these laborers are undocumented and can end up being tricked or sold into factories where they are forced to work 16-hour days with no time off and little or no pay for sometimes years at a time. Some end up locked inside. Others are allowed to go out, but only if they leave their children or spouse behind as a guarantee against running away.

Thiraphong said despite great efforts, Thai Union has been unable to keep labor abuses out of its supply chains. It has tried everything from spot checks by third-party auditors to regular meetings with external suppliers. But problems keep popping up.

"We realized that we could not ensure 100 percent," he said. "Even with the whole system that we established."

He said Thai Union will exclusively use in-house labor for shrimp processing starting Jan. 1, a change he said would cost the company about $5 million.

"This move will provide us with full oversight of all processing stages and will ensure that all workers, whether migrant or Thai, are in safe, legal employment and are treated fairly and with dignity," Thiraphong said.

A day earlier, he called the latest revelations "another wake-up call not only to us, but to the entire industry."

This statement came out from TU at the same time as the AP report..........a very fast and PC statement from them.

However, they have used, and most likely will continue to use cheap foreign (slave/forced/threatened) labour for their supply and processing of fish products.....the satelite image of one of their vessels in PNG waters taking product on board was damning......whether they really do "clean-up" their own house remains to be seen......but one could bet, if there are major cost implications for them....the staus quo will likely remain somewhat!

Edited December 20, 2015 by ChrisY1

[Hawk]

could cause many people to believe that there was a major slave labour problem in Thailand and the authorities were not doing anything to stop it.

Well there is a slave labour problem and very little is being done.. Money talks louder than words.

[Dustdevil]

The Associate press report is certainly not unfair and not made up. It's long an detailed. http://bigstory.ap.org/article/8f64fb25931242a985bc30e3f5a9a0b2/ap-global-supermarkets-selling-shrimp-peeled-slaves

[spidermike007]

We don't like it when we get called out on stuff. It is unfair to tell the truth about us. It is unfair to not let our lies and our fabrications stand, and to challenge the official statements that we make, which are all false. I was told that we must dispute these findings, as they will hurt out image.

"The detection of wrongdoings doesn't mean that Thailand supports the use of slave labour. On the contrary, we are proceeding with actions against illegal labour and we will create justice for all migrant labourers coming to work in Thailand."

​Absolutely false. The government supports the use of slave labor, unequivocally. If they did not, it would end. They would employ enforcement, and they would see that the CEO's of the companies involved spent the rest of their lives in prison, where they rightfully belong.

Sansern said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha was treating it as an issue to high importance and had called for the prosecution of wrongdoers - be they business operators, workers or state officials - in a bid to solve the problem.

Absolutely false. There is no priority being given to this heinous problem. Nobody high up the food chain is getting arrested and sentenced. Nobody. Nothing is being done. The investigator who was responsible for looking into this, is overseas fearing for his life, after revealing the extent of the problems, and the lack of solutions. Do you guys really think we are that stupid? Is there any credibility left, in this ruinous administration? Even a shred of credibility?

[billphillips]

It must be obvious to the powers that be .. that the western world is taking great interest in multiple matters within the Kingdom. I wonder at what point they will realise that all the blustering and strutting has the effect of magnifying that interest. I find it all quite amazing that rather than deal, or at least try to deal, with the root cause of the problem they continue up to the last moment by seemingly ignoring the issues, and then making a statement, as in the op. How long is this trafficking issue been in the news? What's the net result? Why has one of the main investigating cops gone to Australia to seek political asylum?

Rhetorical questions of course but perhaps one person in particular should seek honest (rather than face saving) answers from himself.

[arrowsdawdle]

Unfair, sympathise and understand it's plight ? Another set of boring stock phrases.

What plight is that, knowing the problem but can't or won't take proper action because of who is involved ?

Of course, but it is also fundamental to the culture that refuses to see the actions or inaction that cause the loss of face and instead blame the person or agency that brings it to light.

[Eric Loh]

Whenever the junta try to explain themself out of an issue, the perception of hiding the truth gets louder. They tried giving their side of the story for the Rajabhakti Park and doubters increased and their credibility gets another knock. The junta now is at their lowest ebb in terms of effort to rid corruption and growing poor public perception. They really must change their approach and stop protecting the wealthy and uniform perpetrators.

[LomSak27]

an extensive misunderstanding

I had one of those last week and they can be devastating!

[wvavin]

UNFAIR? Then what is fair? If the media did not help to expose this, all the slave workers would be perpetually suffered in silence and the concerned government officials together with their cronies are reaping in big money.

[Srikcir]

What's unfair is this disclosure just prior to the Junta's presentation on its accomplishments for 2015.

And no doubt highlighting the elimination of human trafficking and slavery in Thailand.

How very insenstive of foreign news media.

Domestic news media knows better.

Edited December 20, 2015 by Srikcir

[JAG]

To be fair, I do think they do have a point.

Getting the ranks mixed up is indeed very unfair reporting.

"Major Problem"? Very, very unfair.

Wouldn't it be much fairer to call it a "General Problem" ?

The Generals will be all right.

It is the Majors who will cop it ( if anyone does)

So perhaps it will turn out to be a Major problem after all!

[BORRISGOODENUF]

THAT'S THE WAY, all is correct, detain the slave workers and protect the wealthy ruling classes. Documented, see with your own eyes stuff is mistaken for what it really is? How strange!

No one wants to see Thai industries damaged but there is such a thing as compliance with some form of human rights. Seems improbable for many to curtail their 'GREED"!

[manhood]

As board member of the NGO CARE Germany-Luxembourg and went with our partner NGO in Thailand to watch some of the projects they set up to help workers in the fishing industry. what i have learned and see was shooking and if you recognize that you wont like to eat fish anymore. Mistreating the workers by the companies they are hired for work, mistreating by police, scared police rob their children and look thm up all day they work, totally rightles as government agencies deny the proper paperwork they would need and take bribes for anything from these poor people. they way of live is: SLAVERY.

And this government is just fighting against all the ones who cover up these grievances instead step into changes: Oh they cant as they would step on their own feet and all the rich families ruling this country!

[tuanku]

Contrast the hysterical childish reaction of the Government with this measured and reasoned reaction from the boss of Thai Union, the firm whose subcontracters were using the slave labour. It proves that the right kind of external pressure can achieve results.

The president of one of the world's biggest seafood exporters expressed frustration and promised change Tuesday after saying an Associated Press investigation that linked slave-peeled shrimp to his company should be a "wake-up call" to the industry.

Thiraphong Chansiri said Thai Union will spend millions of dollars to end reliance on poorly regulated contractors that have been responsible for much of the abuse. He added that under the current system, it's almost impossible to ensure that supply chains are clean.

Like other exporters in Thailand, his company has for years relied heavily on poor migrants working in factories in the port town of Samut Sakhon to peel, gut and devein shrimp.

The AP report revealed Monday that many of these laborers are undocumented and can end up being tricked or sold into factories where they are forced to work 16-hour days with no time off and little or no pay for sometimes years at a time. Some end up locked inside. Others are allowed to go out, but only if they leave their children or spouse behind as a guarantee against running away.

Thiraphong said despite great efforts, Thai Union has been unable to keep labor abuses out of its supply chains. It has tried everything from spot checks by third-party auditors to regular meetings with external suppliers. But problems keep popping up.

"We realized that we could not ensure 100 percent," he said. "Even with the whole system that we established."

He said Thai Union will exclusively use in-house labor for shrimp processing starting Jan. 1, a change he said would cost the company about $5 million.

"This move will provide us with full oversight of all processing stages and will ensure that all workers, whether migrant or Thai, are in safe, legal employment and are treated fairly and with dignity," Thiraphong said.

A day earlier, he called the latest revelations "another wake-up call not only to us, but to the entire industry."

This statement came out from TU at the same time as the AP report..........a very fast and PC statement from them.

However, they have used, and most likely will continue to use cheap foreign (slave/forced/threatened) labour for their supply and processing of fish products.....the satelite image of one of their vessels in PNG waters taking product on board was damning......whether they really do "clean-up" their own house remains to be seen......but one could bet, if there are major cost implications for them....the staus quo will likely remain somewhat!

I agree that it is likely they will continue using the cheapest source of supply as long as they can get away with it. What I believe is changing is their perception of how much they can in fact get away with. AP seem to have got their teeth well and truly into the seafood industry in Thailand and we can expect continued revelations as long as public interest remains high. This reduces the opportunity for big exporters with lots to lose to exploit directly or indirectly, their work force. Expect also the price of sea food to rise.

[bazza40]

It's a real problem for the Government. How do you send external organisations and countries for attitude adjustment? So unfair to Thailand.

[FangFerang]

They threw the slaves, who had no recourse, into jail and fined them over 100k baht, which they can never repay, making them examples for others who might tell foreigners the truth.

Work until you die, or go to jail.

SImple.

Sick.

[EyesWideOpen]

This a bizarre and ongoing part of Thailand. When caught at evil doing, deny everything and

then attack the messenger . This is a part of the insane libel laws that makes people here afraid

to speak the truth. But I suspect that Thailand would be afraid to take on the AP news network

in any form of media battle. So just complain the report is unfair, and hint at things changing in

the future....... Job done, dust swept under the rug, and ready for the next crisis.

Being in the cellar for Tier 3 human rights violations, islands full of graves of

dead trafficked Burmese, and government officials caught in trafficking up to their necks has not

affected Thailand in the least. Doubt some slaves peeling shrimp is going to make an earth

shattering difference... But if human rights groups jump onto the bandwagon of boycotting Thai

shrimp in America, that would be a slap in the face for the wealth elites involved in this trade...

Edited December 20, 2015 by EyesWideOpen