Thailand | Human Rights Abuses and Risks

EVIDENCE | Forced labor, child labor, and/or human trafficking in seafood

    SourceDetails
    U.S. Department of Labor
    2022 List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor    		Thai shrimp and seafood processing industries and Thai fishing industry (including work on sea vessels) included.
    U.S. Department of State
    2022 Trafficking in Persons Report    		Evidence of human trafficking in Thai fishing industry.
    Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch
    Seafood Social Risk Tool Profile    		Evidence of forced labor in multi-species fisheries and child labor in shrimp processing.

    Additional civil society organization reports documenting human rights abuses:
    2019 | Environmental Justice Foundation, Blood and Water
    2018 | Greenpeace, Turn the Tide

    RISK FACTORS

    Risk factorStatusRelevance to risk of human rights abuses
    Flag of convenience
    (International Transport Workers Federation)    		NoFlags of Convenience are connected to the occurrence of human trafficking and forced labor in fishing. Vessels registered to Flag of Convenience states may lack a legitimate connection to the flag state and may be subject to less rigorous management and oversight by the flag state.
    Active yellow or red card for failing to tackle illegal fishing
    (European Union)    		NoThe European Union gives countries yellow and red cards for failing in their requirements under international law to take action against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. There is evidence linking IUU fishing to an increased risk of human trafficking and forced labor on board fishing vessels.
    Failure to ratify key treaties and international labor conventionsYesRatifying key treaties and international labor conventions indicates a country’s commitment to uphold international standards.
    Port State Measures AgreementRatified
    ILO C188 Work in Fishing ConventionRatified
    ILO Core Labor ConventionsNot ratified 3 of 10:
    1. Freedom of Association and Protection of the Right to Organise (No. 87)
    2. Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining (No. 98)
    3. Occupational Safety and Health (No. 155)