Minister to have Thailand removed from US human trafficking watch list

BANGKOK, July 9 (TNA) - Newly-appointed Labour Minister Chalerm Yubamrung plans to have Thailand removed from the Tier 2 watch list for human trafficking of the United States and to quickly solve the problems of child labour. Chalerm introduced the policies to senior officials of his Labour Ministry on Monday, insisting that he wants Thailand to be withdrawn from the US Tier 2 watch list and he will ask police to help suppress human trafficking in the country. Chalerm acknowledged that without police assistance, it is difficult to solve the problem, referring to the problems in Bangkok's suburban Samut Sakhon province, of which he has already ordered the permanent secretary for labour to hand information about workplaces in the province to police, as he wants local police to solve the problems within seven days. The new labour minister said that he will meet shrimp-peeling operators and fishing operators in Samut Sakhon on July 11 to discourage them from child labour abuse and forced labour aboard fishing boats and on July 25, he will also visit Samut Prakan province on the same purposes, whereas, two weeks afterwards, he will convene relevant operators nationwide to discuss the matter. According to Permanent Secretary for Labour Dr. Somkiat Chayasriwong, Thailand was accused of human trafficking in three main areas, including forced labour in fishery, child labour abuse in shrimp peeling and garment production, especially at shophouses, and unfair charges on Thai workers who want overseas jobs. (TNA)