EU teams will check 101 locations for labour abuses in fisheries sector, Thai govt warns

[webfact]

EU teams will check 101 locations for labour abuses in fisheries sector, government warns
JITRAPORN SENWONG
THE NATION



BANGKOK: -- THE EUROPEAN Union is threatening to issue a “red card” to Thai seafood exports if the country fails to seriously fight against labour abuses in the fisheries sector.

"EU teams will conduct inspections in Thailand next month," Vice Admiral Jumpol Lumpiganon, spokesman for the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing, said yesterday. The EU had set up 25 teams to check 101 locations, he said, where work was reportedly driven by illegal labour.

Jumpol expressed concern that if the EU issued a ban the fisheries sector would be hard hit. He said that after hearing about the EU inspection in January, "We have launched a serious crackdown on illegal labour since November 2."

He lamented that some media outlets had inaccurately portrayed Thailand as exploiting modern-day slaves as well as child labourers. "It's so unfair," he said.

In regard to children seen peeling shrimp in the seafood industry, Jumpol explained that it was common in Thai culture for some children to work to earn extra cash for their families.

"It's a culture, as much as the fact that parents in Europe usually send their children to KFC and McDonalds outlets to train them about work," he said.

Jumpol said Thai media outlets needed to explain Thai culture to the world. However, he said the use of child workers at factories was prohibited and the offending factories would face legal action.

Relevant authorities had been working to tackle labour problems, he said, as well as illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.

In April this year, the EU slapped Thailand with a "yellow card" over IUU violations.

In a bid to counter this, Thailand has taken several measures this year. One is the introduction of the Fisheries Royal Ordinance, which has drawn strong opposition from fishermen.

Yesterday, representatives of fishermen in 22 seaside provinces urged the government to immediately review the new legislation.

They said that if Prime Minister General Prayut Chan-o-cha did not heed their demand within one month, they would submit a petition to the United Nations to make it clear to the world that local fishermen in Thailand are not happy with efforts to please the EU at their expense.

In a related development, three fishing trawlers were stopped off Chon Buri province on Monday night for providing false information to the Port In Port Out (PIPO) centres in Samut Prakan and Samut Songkhram provinces.

PIPO centres are now in place in many provinces across Thailand to curb IUU.

"We are working hard to combat IUU in the hope of seeing an end to the EU threat against Thai seafood exports," Vice Admiral Rangsarit Sattayanukool said in his capacity as commander of the First Naval Area Command.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/EU-teams-will-check-101-locations-for-labour-abuse-30275471.html


-- The Nation 2015-12-23

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

"It's a culture, as much as the fact that parents in Europe usually send their children to KFC and McDonalds outlets to train them about work, " he said. ​

Must be the most bizarre denial attempt to cover up modern slavery ever! This country is like a never ending Monty Python movie.

[HiSoLowSoNoSo]

Jumpol said Thai media outlet needed to explain Thai culture to the world.

No need for that MR Jumpol, the world already got an idea about your culture, after the never ending shocking news stories coming from your country.

[Somtamnication]

EU, please don't give advance notices to the Thais.

[kotsak]

EU, please don't give advance notices to the Thais.

Exactly, when the inspectors arrive things will be clean and dandy. :>

[inaktive]

EU, please don't give advance notices to the Thais.

The problem is the need Stuff like Working Visa and such month in advance (because of the local Thai Embassies need that long to approve the working Visas often ) or the RTP will just arrest them in Visa violations and deport them

[Bluespunk]

"It's a culture, as much as the fact that parents in Europe usually send their children to KFC and McDonalds outlets to train them about work," he said"

No they don't.

[Bluespunk]

"He lamented that some media outlets had inaccurately portrayed Thailand as exploiting modern-day slaves as well as child labourers. "It's so unfair," he said.

In regard to children seen peeling shrimp in the seafood industry, Jumpol explained that it was common in Thai culture for some children to work to earn extra cash for their families."

Somehow I don't think arguing child labour is traditional is going to be an argument the EU accepts.

[Bluespunk]

EU, please don't give advance notices to the Thais.

I'm sure the EU won't need to do this...

[NongKhaiKid]

So the EU warns the govt they are going to check 101 locations and the govt passes it on, no doubt with the implied warning for those involved to get their s..t in order.

Wonder what will happen to those who drop the country in it, AA hardly seems appropriate ?

[Plutojames88]

The propaganda line that fisherman will tell the world they aren't happy with Government crack downs ( wink wink nudge) just continues the theme that they ( the military ) think they can persuade their way clear of sanctions without curing the problems.

Whilst talk of unfairness stems from them - the EU will only harden resolves.

The memories of graves and bamboo jails

Children exploitation and slaves trapped at sea in fear of their life's are all too fresh .

Quiet frankly it's terrible sanctions haven't already been imposed.

But I feel this time the piper will need to be paid and the crimes will be detected if they still are in existence.

If they avoid sanctions then applaud them.

If not they will need to suffer the consequences they were afforded the chance to fix things.

The teams will be objective and fair .

If the Thais loose billions of Baht it might finally teach them some lesson about life in the 21st century requiring ethics not just lip service

Edited December 22, 2015 by Plutojames88

[Oziex1]

I think an almost military like exercise is required to truly look into this, with boats out at sea rarely returning to port. The likelihood of all being squeaky clean when inspectors arrive.

Having said that, the inspectors need only take a casual glance and apply sanctions anyway as other posters say it has been going on for far too long and the Thai authorities have basically admitted it with their constant talk and back peddling on the issue.

[robblok]

"He lamented that some media outlets had inaccurately portrayed Thailand as exploiting modern-day slaves as well as child labourers. "It's so unfair," he said.

In regard to children seen peeling shrimp in the seafood industry, Jumpol explained that it was common in Thai culture for some children to work to earn extra cash for their families."

Somehow I don't think arguing child labour is traditional is going to be an argument the EU accepts.

Depends on the age, when I was around 14-15 I had Saturday jobs and in the holiday I worked in the tulips making some extra cash. This was 26 years ago (of course I did not work fulltime that would have been child labor). But making a bit of extra cash is not a bad thing.

I do think here its about child labor and not the occasional day working. Besides the EU sets the rules and they don't care about the Asian culture excuse.

[hanuman2543]

"It's a culture, as much as the fact that parents in Europe usually send their children to KFC and McDonalds outlets to train them about work, " he said. ​

Must be the most bizarre denial attempt to cover up modern slavery ever! This country is like a never ending Monty Python movie.

McDonalds and KFC should sue him for libel and slander

[sirineou]

Would they be bringing their 101 Dalmatians to assist them?

[zoza]

when are they going to quit with the ''they don't understand us or Thainess" ask the top police human trafficker investigator who has fled to Australia in

fear of his life after attempting to arrest the trafficking king pins, ask if he and his family understands what they done wrong, as always only small fry can be put

in jail, but people getting put in jail for criticizing the people running thailand , the problem here is that most of the people understand exactly whats going on.

[oneday]

...and every single location visited will be given advance notice so when the EU teams arrive, each factory will look like a model factory treating their employees with the greatest of kindness and respect in the best working conditions possible.

[DrTuner]

So Thai culture includes child labor? Alright, no need to explain further, got it.

[MZurf]

"Jumpol expressed concern that if the EU issued a ban the fisheries sector would be hard hit."

And as always there is concern solely for face and money and not one iota of empathy for the abused children and adults.

[Bluespunk]

"He lamented that some media outlets had inaccurately portrayed Thailand as exploiting modern-day slaves as well as child labourers. "It's so unfair," he said.

In regard to children seen peeling shrimp in the seafood industry, Jumpol explained that it was common in Thai culture for some children to work to earn extra cash for their families."

Somehow I don't think arguing child labour is traditional is going to be an argument the EU accepts.

Depends on the age, when I was around 14-15 I had Saturday jobs and in the holiday I worked in the tulips making some extra cash. This was 26 years ago (of course I did not work fulltime that would have been child labor). But making a bit of extra cash is not a bad thing.

I do think here its about child labor and not the occasional day working. Besides the EU sets the rules and they don't care about the Asian culture excuse.

The guardian's reports were not focussed on 14-15 year olds when they reported on child labour.

[Thian]

"He lamented that some media outlets had inaccurately portrayed Thailand as exploiting modern-day slaves as well as child labourers. "It's so unfair," he said.

In regard to children seen peeling shrimp in the seafood industry, Jumpol explained that it was common in Thai culture for some children to work to earn extra cash for their families."

Somehow I don't think arguing child labour is traditional is going to be an argument the EU accepts.

Depends on the age, when I was around 14-15 I had Saturday jobs and in the holiday I worked in the tulips making some extra cash. This was 26 years ago (of course I did not work fulltime that would have been child labor). But making a bit of extra cash is not a bad thing.

I do think here its about child labor and not the occasional day working. Besides the EU sets the rules and they don't care about the Asian culture excuse.

I delivered newspapers daily which had to be finished before 7 am. Also i washed cars at the Peugeot-dealer. I did that so i could buy me a 2nd hand yamaha DT motocy when i became 16. My parents wouldn't give me that for free, they let me work for it to teach me that nothing comes for free.

[chainarong]

Advance notice of arrival is not recommended, Australian inspectors stopped this practice in the 80's, in particular the mining sector , the UN should either arrive earlier or delay arrival just to place this inspection tour just that tad more authentic , when you look at this situation I get the opinion that if the industry was above board and at international standards or there about, this wouldn't be happening, so who is to directly to blame, say that again ......................................

Edited December 23, 2015 by chainarong

[siamcrut]

The only way to stop this madness, is to punish the company owners and consumer must stop buying those frozen peeled shrimp!

Never gonna happen...

[thelonius]

"He lamented that some media outlets had inaccurately portrayed Thailand as exploiting modern-day slaves as well as child labourers. "It's so unfair," he said.

In regard to children seen peeling shrimp in the seafood industry, Jumpol explained that it was common in Thai culture for some children to work to earn extra cash for their families."

Somehow I don't think arguing child labour is traditional is going to be an argument the EU accepts.

Depends on the age, when I was around 14-15 I had Saturday jobs and in the holiday I worked in the tulips making some extra cash. This was 26 years ago (of course I did not work fulltime that would have been child labor). But making a bit of extra cash is not a bad thing.

I do think here its about child labor and not the occasional day working. Besides the EU sets the rules and they don't care about the Asian culture excuse.

I delivered newspapers daily which had to be finished before 7 am. Also i washed cars at the Peugeot-dealer. I did that so i could buy me a 2nd hand yamaha DT motocy when i became 16. My parents wouldn't give me that for free, they let me work for it to teach me that nothing comes for free.

All very laudable I'm sure, but before this topic disappears under the weight of fond memories of part time jobs to enhance your pocket money, can we concentrate on the REAL issue here - the obscene attitude of Thai officialdom to slave working.

"In regard to children seen peeling shrimp in the seafood industry, Jumpol explained that it was common in Thai culture for some children to work to earn extra cash for their families.

"It's a culture, as much as the fact that parents in Europe usually send their children to KFC and McDonalds outlets to train them about work," he said."

This from a Vice Admiral who is supposed to be the "spokesman for the Command Centre for Combating Illegal Fishing". Come on prayuth, where do you get these people from? That was a rhetorical question, we know where you get these people from, the question is why is this man (or any military personnel for that matter) anywhere near what should be a serious organisation?

[Lupatria]

Jumpol said Thai media outlet needed to explain Thai culture to the world.

No need for that MR Jumpol, the world already got an idea about your culture, after the never ending shocking news stories coming from your country.

It looks like after conveniently modifying the history books they secretly re-wrote the dictionary defining the term: CULTURE.

I wonder if the definition includes terms like: Democracy is a trap, Dictatorship and Corruption to explain the new meaning of the word.

[Baerboxer]

"Jumpol expressed concern that if the EU issued a ban the fisheries sector would be hard hit."

And as always there is concern solely for face and money and not one iota of empathy for the abused children and adults.

Those slave workers, abused workers, illegal child workers won't be Chinese-Thai from wealthy, connected Thai families. Maybe not even Thai citizens at all.

So, they won't give a toss about them let alone show any empathy.

Simply a commodity to be exploited - like cattle, pigs or poultry.

[manhood]

Lamenting and lamenting that's the only thing they can do instead of solving a long lasting problem and always point on others who not understand, who misinterpret, who point fingers in the wound, who don't understand Thai way of doing, who who who....

I hope that more international countries are stopping this stupid way of solving problems in Thailand and there is no way Gen.Prayuth to make the people happy with some foolish songs: Act for the best and take the helping hand of foreigners to bring this country forward to make the people of Thailand happy!

[Chang_paarp]

Of course there is no chance the inspectors actually prepare for their series of inspections by reading the local media to see what pronouncements the Thai officials are making and the overt admissions in the esteemed journals.

Has anyone told them the advantages of shutting up? Oh I forgot "Thainess".

[Ulic]

Just get on with it and issue the red card. Nothing has changed, nothing will change, the industry is in denial.

[sanukjim]

So is it that The EU has to inspect Thailand's fishing operations for illegal practices because they don't trust Thailand to be properly conduct their own ?

Edited December 23, 2015 by sanukjim