THURSDAY, March 28, 2024
nationthailand

4,000 fishery workers still on I'nesian seas

4,000 fishery workers still on I'nesian seas

As many as 4,000 fishery workers, of whom 2,000 are Thais, continue to work in Indonesian seas while fewer than 200 have been rescued by the authorities over the past weeks, panellists said yesterday.

The were speaking at a seminar on human trafficking held by the Thai Journalists Association.
The violations of labour rights that occurred on the Indonesian islands of Ambon and Benjina were just part of a bigger problem, they said.
Many Thai, Myanmar and Laotian fishermen still suffered terrible work conditions, according to Sompong Srakaew of the Labour Rights Promotion Network Foundation. 
Many Thais were awaiting help from Thai authorities, said Sompong.
Not all of them are illegal, but most suffered the same ordeal, he said. Many illegal workers fled and opted to work without legal papers on the Indonesian mainland, he said. 
The government should continue to help them, he said, but added that the recent move by Thai authorities to rescue them had improved the situation to a certain extent.
On issues related to trafficking, Thai officials need better understanding on law enforcement as they meted out bad treatment, notably to children of the trafficked parents, panellists said in the same seminar. 
A better remedy system for victims, faster implementation of regulations and a better system of traceability are needed, they said.
The problem of bad treatment of children started when police inspected the houses of Myanmar migrants in the area near Talad Thai in Pathum Thani province on April 17. Officials tried to deport them, despite the government’s policy to extend the deadline for migrant workers to register for permission to stay and work in Thailand until June. 
Roisai Wongsuban of the Migrant Working Group said 51 Myanmar workers who were pushed to the border possessed legal documents that permitted them to stay and work in the Kingdom. 
As for their children, 41 of them were born in Thailand and should normally have the right to reside in this country. 
Human-rights expert Surapong Kongchantuk said inspecting and arresting children worsened the current situation as children become victims. Thailand must protect these children, rather than arresting them, he said, and noted that the establishment of a childcare centre would help improve the situation.
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