Fishermen demand rights

The government has been urged to enact legislation to protect exploited workers in the fishing industry.

In an open letter to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, the Human Rights and Development Foundation said human trafficking in the fisheries industry was a serious violation of rights and of domestic and international laws.

It called for a law to protect all workers in the fishing industry with a standard at least equivalent to those in other industries.

The group also urged the government to prevent and suppress the trafficking of forced labour in the industry and to set up a nationwide database to monitor boats.

International cooperation by the National Human Rights Commission of Thailand was also essential to ensure effective monitoring, the group said.

A recent report by the BBC highlighted human trafficking and exploitation of labour by organised networks and syndicates that illegally smuggle and deceive thousands of migrant workers from Burma into working for the Thai fishing industry.

The report alleged that on arrival in Thailand, Burmese workers are sold to brokers who sell them on to fishing boat owners. They are then forced to work 15 to 20 hours a day.


(2011-5-2/BangkokPost)