On January 26, 2022, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned Assistant Minister from the Prime Minister’s Office performing duties for the Ministry of Labour Police Major General Nantachat Supamongkol, to visit the area to inspect labour protection in marine fishing boats at the pier of the Marine Police Station 4, Command Division 4, Marine Police Division, in Samut Sakhon Province. Maj. Gen. Nantachat said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister and Minister of Defense General Prayuth Chan-ocha, and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan, prioritize upgrading the prevention and solution of trafficking in persons to Tier 2 to meet international and the International Labour Organization’s standards while advancing policies on the prevention and elimination of illegal fishing, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU fishing). This inspection was an integrated collaboration between the Ministry of Labour, the Marine Police, and NGOs, including Stella Maris, the IJM Foundation, and the SR Law Office, for the relevant units to have the same understanding. The challenges and/or obstacles encountered in the inspections were brought together to improve the implementation of labour protection in the fisheries sector to be more effective.
Maj. Gen. Nantachat said that Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned him and his committee to visit Samut Sakhon Province to inspect and ensure the protection of workers in fishing boats. They listened to the performance report and challenges in marine fisheries occupation during the visit. They met with employees, employers, and stakeholders involved in driving government policies to prevent and tackle human trafficking. Today, the committee inspected three fishing boats, namely, Kor. Eakalaknabee, with 27 crew members, 15 of Thai nationality, and 12 from Myanmar. The second vessel was Kor. Pornatchararungsiri, with 31 crew members, 9 of Thai nationality, and 22 from Myanmar. The third vessel was Wor. Krasaesin 4, with 17 crew members, 3 of Thai nationality and 14 from Myanmar. On this occasion, they emphasized the government’s policy to prevent and resolve human trafficking to the staff, employers, and employees on fishing boats, especially in terms of welfare, providing hygienic food and drinking water, toilets, medical supplies, and medicine for first aid use in sufficient numbers to suit the work and time on the boat. They also instructed employers to educate employees about working conditions, use safety equipment tools at work to ensure good health while living on the boat, and check the availability of safety equipment on board before work.
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Division of Public Relations
26 January 2022
