Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned the Labour Minister’s Secretariat Mr. Suthep Chitayavong, Police Major General Nantachat Supamongkol from the Office of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat, performing duties for the Ministry of Labour, to visit Krabi to inspect the protection of workers in sea fishing vessels at the Krabi Sea Fisheries Prevention and Suppression Center Pier. They met with employees, employers, and other stakeholders in driving government policies to prevent and tackle human trafficking.
On April 8, 2021, Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned Police Major General Nantachat Supamongkol from the Office of the Prime Minister’s Secretariat to inspect the protection of workers in sea fishing vessels at the Krabi Sea Fisheries Prevention and Suppression Center Pier in Krabi.
Police Major General Nantachat said that the government under the leadership of Prime Minister and Defense Minister General Prayuth Chan-ocha and the Ministry of Labour under the supervision of Deputy Prime Minister General Prawit Wongsuwan gives importance to driving policies on preventing and eliminating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and raising the level of prevention and solution to human trafficking to Tier 1 to meet international standards and that of the International Labour Organization.
Police Major General Nantachat said that Labour Minister Mr. Suchart Chomklin assigned him and his committee to visit Krabi, inspect the protection of workers in marine fishing boats, visit and listen to the performance reports problems and barriers to labour in sea fishery. They also met with employees, employers, and other stakeholders in driving government policies to prevent and tackle human trafficking. Five fishing vessels were inspected as follows: 1. Phet Samut 11, sized 31.65 gross tons with 25 crew members, all of Thai nationality. 2. Sao Talay 1, sized 37.36 gross tons with 27 crew members, including 21 Thai nationals and 6 Myanmar nationals. 3. Por Chok Somkiat 1, sized 31.62 gross tons with 27 crew members, all of Thai nationality. 4. Jatupol Nam Sap 99, sized 36.45 gross tons with 24 crew members, including 12 Thai nationals and 12 Myanmar nationals. 5. Chanakan 9, sized 70.81 gross tons with 22 crew members. This occasion highlighted the government’s policy to prevent and tackle labour trafficking for officials, employers, and workers on fishing vessels, especially welfare arrangements, ensuring clean and hygienic food and drinking water, toilets, medical supplies, and sufficient medicine for first-aid use, to suit the work and life on the boat. The committee also instructed the employer to educate employees about working conditions, using tools, protective equipment, and safety in work, have good health while living on the vessel, and check the availability of safety equipment on the vessel before work.
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Division of Public Relations
8 April 2021
