A/HRC/41/43/Add.1
which made the adoption of a code of conduct on ethical labour practices a requirement for
membership, including a commitment to monitor compliance with the standards of
suppliers. Government agencies and business associations have also opened consultations
with trade unions and associations of migrant workers. In recognition of these efforts, in
January 2019 the European Union withdrew its warning on Thai fishing imports.
51.
Despite improvements, it is clear that workers in the fisheries sector remain
vulnerable to human rights abuses. The Working Group therefore recommends that the
Government continue its efforts to improve oversight and regulation of the fisheries sector.
52.
Very importantly, the Government needs also to pay attention to the risks of forced
labour and trafficking, which are present in other sectors in Thailand that have a large
number of migrant workers, such as agriculture, livestock, hospitality, garment
manufacturing and domestic work. That is also a main conclusion of the Thailand
Migration Report 2019, which presents the findings from research undertaken by the
United Nations country team in Thailand. The report notes that, despite signs of progress in
the fishing and seafood processing sector, labour abuses continue, including indications of
forced labour, such as deceptive recruitment practices and the withholding of wages. In line
with the observations of the Working Group, the report highlights the fact that a singular
focus on the fisheries industry has diverted attention away from similar problems in other
sectors. The Working Group was informed by the Government of the efforts made by the
livestock sector to voluntarily adopt the International Labour Organization (ILO) Good
Labour Practices (GLP) in cooperation with the Department of Labour Protection and
Welfare and the Department of Livestock Development.
53.
While Thailand does not face the same international pressure to get its house in
order in sectors other than fisheries, the Government has demonstrated that it is capable of
taking serious steps to stamp out forced labour, provided the political will is there.
54.
The Working Group sees the decision by the Government of Thailand to ratify the
Protocol to the ILO Forced Labour Convention, 1930 (No. 29) as an indication of its
commitment to eliminate forced labour and human trafficking. Thailand became the
twenty-fourth country to ratify the protocol and the first Asian country to do so. The
Working Group also notes with appreciation that Thailand was the first Asian country to
ratify the ILO Work in Fishing Convention, 2007 (No. 188) to protect the living and
working conditions of fishermen and women on board vessels.
VIII. Migrant workers
55. Thailand is a key destination country for migrant workers, both regular and irregular,
in the Greater Mekong subregion. According to the latest United Nations estimate,
approximately 4.9 million foreign nationals reside in Thailand. Some 3.9 million are
migrant workers from neighbouring countries, of which it is estimated that more than
800,000 are in irregular status. It is estimated that migrant workers constitute more than 10
per cent of the total labour force and that in some economic sectors, such as construction
and fishing, migrants account for almost 80 per cent of workers. 8
56.
The Working Group observes that migrant workers in irregular status are
particularly vulnerable to abuse and in that regard welcomes the efforts to formalize labour
migration.
57.
Thailand has signed agreements and memorandums of understanding aimed at
regularizing the status of irregular migrants with neighbouring Cambodia, the Lao People’s
Democratic Republic and Myanmar. The latest amendment to the memorandum of
understanding with those States was signed in 2015–2016, as was a new memorandum with
Viet Nam. The Working Group was also informed of the efforts made by the Government
to regularize undocumented migrants by allowing them to register during a grace period at
one-stop registration offices across the country. The Working Group visited one such centre
8
12
Thailand Migration Report 2019, pp. 11–14.
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