On August 23 to 25, 2023, the Ministry of Labour’s Chief Inspector-General, Mrs. Sopa Kieatnircha, the head of the Ministry of Labour’s screening working group seeking preliminary indications for persons with reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be victims of labour exploitation, forced labour, or labour trafficking, Team 1 visited Saraburi, Ang Thong, and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provinces, to monitor the performance following the order of the screening task force to seek early indications for individuals with reasonable grounds to suspect that they may be victims of labour exploitation, forced labour, or human trafficking. She also handed over policies and orders to the central working group, represented by the Director of the Office of the Secretariat of the Labour Trafficking Prevention Command Center, Ms. Sopana Boon-Long, and the provincial working groups were also present to deliver policies and instruct the general inspection of establishments to seek preliminary indications for persons with reasonable suspicion that they may be victims of labour exploitation, forced labour or human trafficking. They introduced the Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) on initial screening to seek indications for persons who have reasonable grounds to be suspected as victims of labour exploitation, forced labour, or human trafficking following the Anti-Human Trafficking Act B.E. 2551 and its amendments, Section 6/1, and the initial screening on forced labour or services and human trafficking by the Ministry of Labour (according to the Anti-Human Trafficking Act B.E. 2551 and its amendments), and to proceed according to the National Referral Mechanism (NRM). They inspected two establishments in Saraburi Province, 5 in Ang Thong Province, and 4 in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province. There was more employment of foreign workers than Thais, as with the type of establishments checked, the work is not the type Thai people would apply for. It was found that the employment of foreign workers was according to the MOU and the Cabinet’s resolutions on July 5, 2022, and July 5, 2023. From the examination by the RorBor. 1 form (by random method), no indication would lead to the screening by a multidisciplinary team, but it was found that the wages did not comply with the minimum wage. The employer did not notify the Social Security Office, and workplace safety conditions were not met, especially in recycling establishments lacking factory staff safety training. The local agencies will continue to coordinate and follow up on related issues. It was also found that some establishments employ workers over 60. Therefore, they have advised workers and employers about the benefits they will receive.
The Ministry of Labour’s Chief Inspector-General, asked for cooperation from companies to focus on prevention guidelines, asking foreign workers who come to work legally to help communicate the information with friends, relatives, and acquaintances who want to work in Thailand, requesting them to travel legally to work to be protected by labour laws, obtain legal employment conditions and be treated at international standards. It also ensures they have a good quality of work life and safety and do not fall into a vulnerable or a risk group for people to be used for forced labour or services and be trafficked for labour.
