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Thailand urged to stop sending prisoners out to sea | Thailand urged to stop sending prisoners out to sea |
(3 days later) | |
More than 40 labour and human rights groups have urged Thailand to end a project to recruit prisoners to work on fishing boats. | |
In a letter to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha they said the project would not address the problems in the fishing industry and posed a serious threat to prisoners' rights. | In a letter to Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha they said the project would not address the problems in the fishing industry and posed a serious threat to prisoners' rights. |
Thailand is the world's third-largest seafood exporter. | Thailand is the world's third-largest seafood exporter. |
Its fishing industry has been suffering from a labour shortage. | Its fishing industry has been suffering from a labour shortage. |
More than 300,000 people work in the industry. Many are illegal migrants from neighbouring countries who are often subject to ill-treatment. | More than 300,000 people work in the industry. Many are illegal migrants from neighbouring countries who are often subject to ill-treatment. |
The lack of manpower has fuelled human trafficking. | The lack of manpower has fuelled human trafficking. |
"Simply replacing vulnerable migrant workers with released prisoners will not solve the abusive working conditions and many other problems present in the Thai fishing industry," the letter says. | "Simply replacing vulnerable migrant workers with released prisoners will not solve the abusive working conditions and many other problems present in the Thai fishing industry," the letter says. |
Ex-prisoners at sea | Ex-prisoners at sea |
Last December the Thai labour ministry announced it would send consenting prisoners who had less than a year of their sentence left to go and work on fishing boats. | Last December the Thai labour ministry announced it would send consenting prisoners who had less than a year of their sentence left to go and work on fishing boats. |
On Wednesday the ministry added it was not sending current inmates to sea but that a pilot scheme was intended to help ex-prisoners find work, while also addressing the labour shortage and fighting human trafficking. | On Wednesday the ministry added it was not sending current inmates to sea but that a pilot scheme was intended to help ex-prisoners find work, while also addressing the labour shortage and fighting human trafficking. |
As a result, more than 170 prisoners were now working on fishing boats in Samut Sakhon province west of Bangkok, it added. | As a result, more than 170 prisoners were now working on fishing boats in Samut Sakhon province west of Bangkok, it added. |
The warning by rights groups comes as Thailand is trying to boost its record in fighting human trafficking ahead of a US deadline to show improvement. | The warning by rights groups comes as Thailand is trying to boost its record in fighting human trafficking ahead of a US deadline to show improvement. |
In its annual report on human trafficking last June, the US state department downgraded Thailand to the lowest status for not fully complying with minimum standards for its elimination. | In its annual report on human trafficking last June, the US state department downgraded Thailand to the lowest status for not fully complying with minimum standards for its elimination. |
The Prime Minister, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, has acknowledged the complicity of some Thai authorities in smuggling people and forcing them to work in the fishing industry. | The Prime Minister, Gen Prayuth Chan-ocha, has acknowledged the complicity of some Thai authorities in smuggling people and forcing them to work in the fishing industry. |
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