Government denies report on slavery in Thai fishing industry

BANGKOK, December 22 (TNA) - The government has denied a foreign news report that the Thai fishing industry was allowed to use slave-like labor. Referring to an English-language report by a foreign news agency on December 13-14, Government Spokesman Major General Sansern Kaewkamnerd told journalists on December 21 that wrong messages from the foreign news report have had massive negative impacts and the Thai government needs to clarify the matter. The report indicated that Thai authorities turned a blind eye on slavery at a shrimp-peeling factory and there were campaigns in other countries to boycott Thai products. The government spokesman insisted that the Thai government was seriously tackling illegal fishing and taking harsh actions against officials involving in human trafficking. The spokesman also denied the part of the report that illegal labor reduced production costs and made Thailand a leading shrimp exporter. The spokesman stressed that after the Thai army-led National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) has taken control of the national administration on May 22, 2014, several local officials, soldiers and police have been arrested and punished for human trafficking. The spokesman pointed out that Thailand’s status as a leading shrimp exporter has resulted from quality products. According to the spokesman, the Thai government is seeking fair reporting in the future, as the foreign news agency's report appeared not to be based on first-hand information at any industrial site. Meanwhile, Labor Ministry Spokesman Theeraphol Khunmuang told reporters that his ministry has brought illegal migrant workers to legal protection by registering them, with about 1.6 million of them having been registered so far and the registration to be continued until January 2016. The spokesman noted that the one-day process guarantees human rights of the migrant workers. (TNA)