On August 29, 2022, Deputy Secretary-General to the Prime Minister, Police Lieutenant Colonel Thammasak Witcharaya, presided over the project’s opening ceremony to prevent and resolve forced labour or services that may arise from violations of migrant workers. The activities included training on the prevention and correction of forced labour or services that may arise from violations of migrant workers. Deputy Permanent Secretary of Labour and the Ministry of Labour’s Spokesperson, Mr. Wannarat Srisuksai, joined the opening ceremony. Academic Labour Advisor Mrs. Napasorn Toongsooksai presented the event’s objectives at the Ballroom on the 3rd floor, The Emerald Hotel, Bangkok.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Thammasak said the government intends to eradicate human trafficking. This includes all forced labor or services out of Thailand. It has set the prevention and suppression of human trafficking as a national agenda and has continued to eliminate the issues until now. The Ministry of Labour is the main agency in the prevention and suppression of human trafficking, responsible for preventative operations under the 20-year national strategy on security. It has continued to operate in many dimensions, such as amendments and enactment of laws to protect all types of workers. It has also organized a management system for foreign workers to allow them to receive equal protection under the law, equal to Thai workers. It has implemented a policy of providing benefits to workers based on the principle of equal treatment for all workers and does not discriminate against nationality, gender, or social status. It complies with international principles, promotes business establishments/employers, and applies Good Labour Practice (GLP) guidelines to ensure that businesses/employers have no child labour, no human trafficking, no forced labour, and no discrimination against workers, as well as enforces laws to protect workers of all types.
Police Lieutenant Colonel Thammasak continued that in 2022, the Ministry of Labour has set Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) in preliminary screening for indications for persons who may be victims of labour exploitation, forced labour, or labour trafficking under Section 6/1, under the Anti-Human Trafficking Act. This is considered to raise protection standards to prevent Thai and foreign workers from becoming victims of human trafficking and forced labour or services. It also serves as guidance for operators to screen and identify victims of labour trafficking or forced labor or services. On July 19, 2022, the US Department of State released the TIP Report 2022, with Thailand, rated Tier 2, up from the original Tier 2 Watchlist in 2021. The efforts have resulted in Thailand gaining more trust from the world community in preventing and suppressing human trafficking.
Academic Labour Advisor Mrs. Napasorn Toongsooksai said that this meeting aims to provide participants with an understanding of the policies, laws, regulations, and guidelines related to forced labour or services, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), and the action plan on the national referral mechanism, so that they can apply the knowledge to their areas effectively. The participants comprised the Ministry of Labour’s executives, civil servants, and officials. There were also honoured guests, speakers, project staff, and representatives from NGOs, totaling 100 people. The session was considered a collaboration with officials under the Ministry of Labour in driving anti-human trafficking policies to eliminate forced labour and human trafficking in Thailand and to enable Thailand to comply with US standards and be ranked in the Trafficking in Persons Report as Tier 1.
