Australian minister urged to end modern slavery in Thailand
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr was urged to discuss the actions needed to end the use of modern slavery in Thailand when meeting with Thai government officials today.
The Uniting Church in Victoria and Tasmania said in a statement that trafficked and forced labour continue to be major problems in the seafood, fruit and vegetable and garment industries in Thailand. Australian companies, including major retail chains Coles and Woolworths, are importers of these goods into Australia, with Thailand being Australia’s ninth largest trading partner.
“There are horrific stories coming out of Thailand, from forced migrant workers on fishing boats being beheaded by criminal captains to 14-year-old girls working to shell shrimp in a peeling shed working 16 hour shifts seven days a week for less than $3 a day”, said Dr Mark Zirnsak, social justice spokesperson for the Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of Victoria and Tasmania.
“As Australian companies are importers of goods from Thailand where there is a risk of trafficked or forced labour having been used in the production of the goods, the Australian Government should be actively working with the Thai Government to help stamp out this criminal activity," he said in a statement released by the group.
Thailand is Australia's ninth largest trading partner. In Thailand, Senator Carr will hold talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Dr Surapong Tovichakchaikul on regional development and security. This builds on the visit by Thailand's Prime Minister Yingluck to Australia in 2012.
Senator Carr will also meet with Australian business representatives in Thailand.
