Thai govt, Nestle and Thai Union Group to launch 'Demonstration Boat'

BANGKOK, 29 March 2016 (NNT) - The Thai government and fishery industry have agreed to jointly launch a project called ‘Demonstration Boat’ to protect the rights of fishery workers.

The project, made possible by the Department of Fisheries, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nestle and Thai Union Group, aims to raise awareness among fishing boat owners, captains and crewmembers of the rights of fishery workers.

Fishing boats under the project will be provided by the Thai government while Nestle and Thai Union Group, alongside NGOs, will support and oversee the renovation of fishing boats as model boats with improved working conditions and labor employment standards on board.

The ‘demonstration boat’ will serve as a capacity- building model for fishing boat owners, captains and fishery workers. A training course will be jointly designed by all project partners, including the Department of Fisheries and the Ministry of Labor.

The Thai government is committed to promoting and protecting the rights of fishery workers while a new ministerial regulation enforced from February 25, 2016 is set to secure the health, safety and welfare of the crewmembers. The regulation requires the boat owner to provide appropriate safety equipment as well as adequate and clean food and drinking water for the crew. A resting period, dining and leisure areas on board are mandatory alongside a first-aid kit and a toilet facility with proper sanitation standards.

The ‘Demonstration Boat’ project complements the new ministerial regulation. Boat owners and crewmembers will witness first-hand a fishing boat which meets all legal requirements. Most importantly, they will learn the practical steps to transform their own fishing boats into the ones with decent working and living conditions. Through this approach, the ‘Demonstration Boat’ lessons will bring tangible improvements on fishing boats in Thai territorial waters, making a difference to the lives of hundreds of thousands who work at sea.

The Thai authorities are pleased to learn that Thailand’s strict law enforcement has contributed to significant improvements along Nestle’s supply chain, ensuring that Nestle products are traceable to fishing vessels. The Thai government concurs with Nestle's enhanced traceability system which is a vital step towards rooting out human rights abuses in the Thai seafood industry.

The ‘Demonstration Boat’ is a case in point for a viable public-private-civil society partnership (PPCP) to combat human trafficking and labor abuses in the Thai seafood supply chain. This will also be the world’s first demonstration boat to exhibit best practices in the protection of human rights of fishery workers. The first training session is scheduled to kick off in the second half of 2016. The project may later be extended to cover fishing industry throughout the ASEAN region.


-- NNT 2016-03-29

OMG! Do they actually think a weathered Thai captain and his crew are actually going to change their ways because they are shown differently on this boat?

Just try to teach a farmer or construction Foreman about doing something differently. They will watch and listen and then do it their way regardless. Or even a teacher for that matter! The saying is well preserved here in Thailand that you can't teach an old dog new tricks

"The Thai government and fishery industry have agreed to jointly launch a project called ‘Demonstration Boat’ to protect the rights of fishery workers."

Another brilliant move by the Thai Government.

Nestle is being sued for allegedly using child slaves on cocoa farms http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nestle-is-being-sued-for-allegedly-using-child-slaves-on-cocoa-farms-a6806646.html

Edited March 29, 201610 yr by jaltsc

I tried to teach my 10 year old dog to roll over this morning and all he did was go to sleep.

Same thing here.

"The Thai government and fishery industry have agreed to jointly launch a project called ‘Demonstration Boat’ to protect the rights of fishery workers."

Another brilliant move by the Thai Government.

Nestle is being sued for allegedly using child slaves on cocoa farms http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/nestle-is-being-sued-for-allegedly-using-child-slaves-on-cocoa-farms-a6806646.html

As soon as I saw Nestle in the headline I assumed it was an April Fool's joke. But no, we still have a few days to go.

It's likely Nestle wrote this, and then it got washed through the government and published by NNT. Kudos to the PR Department.

After NestIé, I wouldn't be surprised if the "government" will ask Monsanto to jointly launch an agricultural farm training center.

Maybe the songwriter-general will present a new Thai version of "Sympathy for the devil" at the opening...

Haha! Exactly what boat owners and captains want to hear. In one ear, out the other thank you very much...now sod off!