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specifically define only the offenses related to forced labor or service as enacted in the Labor
Protection Act in Fisheries B.E. 2562 (2019) in order to protect the rights of fishermen and
prevent forced labor in fisheries, etc. On the other hand, there are preventive measures in terms
of labor preparation building understanding of the private sector, such as encouraging
entrepreneurs to adopt the Good Labor Practices (GLP). At the same time, there is a systematic
process of protection for victims of labor rights violations and serious prosecution to
demonstrate their commitment to resolving the issue and to build cooperation among network
partners, which presents the facts as clarified by the relevant government agencies. The
agencies that provided clarification to the National Human Rights Commission included the
Ministry of Labor, Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, Ministry of Foreign
Affairs, Department of Fisheries, Marine Department, Department of Rights and Liberties
Protection and the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division. Although the above actions will not
completely end child labor and forced labor but there have been advances in terms of
prevention, deterrence and elimination, as well as, tougher enforcement processes, according
to the statements and opinions of fisheries associations and civil society organizations.
Although there are still problems with labor in the Thai fishing industry, however, government
agencies have demonstrated that they aim to protect fishermen from being exploited more than
ever.
In addition, the government has integrated measures to solve the problem of child labor
and forced labor in the fishing industry and in other industrial sectors, especially, sectors with
large number of migrant workers such as in cane and sugar industries. This is considered a
systematic approach to correction and prevention, which will prevent the same problem from
occurring in other industries. These facts emerged from the clarification of the Rights and
Liberties Protection Department based on the implementation of the National Action Plan on
Business and Human Rights, Phase 1 (2019 - 2022) for the labor action plan.
On government action toward the US Department of Labor which has placed two items
of goods, namely fish and shrimp, manufactured in Thailand on the List of Goods Produced by
Child Labor or Forced Labor, including the fishing industry, it was found that the government
and relevant agencies have a policy to specifically address such problems, especially from 2020
to 2021, with the Ministry of Labor as the main agency. In 2021, a sub-committee has been
established to monitor and collect data on the prevention and resolution of child labor and
forced labor in industries producing shrimp, fish, sugarcane and clothing products under the