MOL Emphasizes Prevention of Human Trafficking and Protection of Workers from all Nationalities under Legal Rights

 

 

          Today (November 18, 2019) at 09.00 hours, Permanent Secretary of Labour Mr. Suthi Sukosol chaired the opening ceremony of the workshop to increase the effectiveness on the prevention of forced labour and human trafficking by provincial labour offices in 2020. The occasion took place at Grand Room, 5th floor, Tharnthip Building, Chao Phraya Park Hotel, Bangkok. The Permanent Secretary of Labour said that “In the past, the Ministry of Labour has made many efforts to cooperate with all sectors to prevent human trafficking. There have been continuous important developments including determining measures to promote and protect the rights of workers of all nationalities equally, to meet international standards. The ministry has organized and increased the efficiency of foreign worker management, establishing strict inspection measures for organizations through a proper process, as well as ratifying the protocol under the ILO Convention 29 concerning forced or compulsory labour and Convention 188 on work in fisheries.
          In 2018 and 2019, the United States ranked Thailand as a Tier 2 human trafficking situation for 2 consecutive years, which confirms the confidence that the United States has towards the Thai government’s efforts to prevent people becoming victims of human trafficking. However, the United States still has several important preventative recommendations. The Ministry of Labour enacted an amendment to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2008, 2019, to support the protocol under the ILO Convention 29 concerning forced or compulsory labour. The Ministry of Labour and agencies must strive to continue to drive operations, including the potential development of officials of the Ministry of Labour to take proactive actions in the area, provide access to victims and prosecute offenders for forced labour and human trafficking, as well as increase efforts for workers of all nationalities to be protected and receive legal benefits.
          This meeting was held to develop the capacity of provincial office workers in driving operations and preventing forced labour and human trafficking in the area. It also aimed to increase awareness about the essence of the amendment to the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act 2008, 2019, in the 76 provinces in 2020. The target group consists of 110 officers under the Ministry of Labour and Provincial Labour Offices.