Thailand gives priority to good labour practices

The Labour Ministry is cooperating with the International Labour Organisation (ILO) to improve conditions in workplaces run by about 200 seafood operators in Thailand and to comply with good labour practices. 

Migrant workers  at a prawn market in Samut Sakhon. (Photo by Thiti Wannamontha)

The move is aimed mainly at improving Thailand's image in the international community.

Labour permanent secretary Jirasuk Sugandhajati said on Wednesday that the United States' negative view of Thailand regarding its human trafficking problems had impacts on the prawn, fisheries, sugarcane and garment products sectors.
The ministry planned to apply good labour practices (GLPs) to solve the problem, he said.
He did not suggest it was out of concern for the workers in the industry.
Mr Jirasuk said GLPs would be implemented in prawn and seafood-related industries covering initial processing workplaces, prawn farms, frozen seafood factories and fisheries.
The ministry and the ILO would introduce GLPs at about 200 participating workplaces and those that met the labour standard would receive certificates from the ministry to show their foreign trading partners that their businesses were free of human trafficking, Mr Jirasuk said.
The permanent secretary for labour discussed good labour practices with Maurizio Bussi, of the ILO Decent Work Technical Support Teams for East and Southeast Asia and the Pacific on Wednesday.
GLPs prohibit businesses using child workers, defined as under 15 years, and forced labour, from discrimination and from human trafficking. They allow association among workers, exchanging opinions with employees, and require provision of safe workplaces and safe use of chemicals.
The standards promote the employment of workers aged 15-17 and installation of hygienic waste treatment systems.
Mr Jirasuk said all fishing boat operators were required to sign clear employment contracts with their workers. Earlier those hiring fewer than 20 workers were spared the requirement.
Last month the US demoted Thailand from the Tier 2 watch list to Tier 3, the lowest ranking, in its Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report.
Sumet Mahosot, director-general of the Department of Employment, said his department would open a hotline number, 1694, on July 4 to serve foreign workers.
Staff mainnng the hotline would speak in Thai, Myanmar, Cambodian and English. He said Lao and Thai people could already communicate naturally so there would not be a Lao translator at the hotline service. The hotline will initially operate from 6-9am and 4-8pm.