Thailand to report anti-human trafficking efforts to US

BANGKOK, July 3 (TNA) - Thailand will report national anti-human trafficking efforts to the United States to show the country's serious move to address the issue. Permanent Secretary for Social Development and Human Security Vichien Chavalit told journalists of the move on Thursday, after a meeting of concerned agencies, saying that he told all the concerned agencies to report their latest information on anti-human trafficking work so that his ministry will compile a report and send it to Washington to prove that Thailand has not ignored human trafficking. Vichien acknowledged that the move was in response to the United States' recent decision on dropping Thailand from its Tier 2 watch list to its worst Tier 3 of countries with human trafficking-related problems in its latest 2013 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report. Vichien revealed that the agencies concerned have formed a working group to follow up anti-human trafficking efforts monthly and to also coordinate such efforts with neighboring countries. According to the senior official, concerned authorities will discuss on the matter with local employers on July 21, focused on the alleged involvement of some government authorities in smuggling migrant workers. Meanwhile, Chatchawal Suksomjit, Director-General of the Department of Special Investigation (DSI), noted that Thai authorities have taken standard actions to cope with human trafficking and he will report Thailand's progress of the actions to Washington, through the Thai Ministry of Social Development and Human Security. Deputy Permanent Secretary for Labor ML Puntharik Samiti stated that his ministry has successfully launched a one-stop service center for migrant workers in Bangkok's neighboring Samut Sakhon Province and will open such facilities in seven more Thai provinces later this month, including those in Samut Prakan, Chon Buri, Chachoengsao, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Surat Thani and Songkhla. Thailand's Ministry of Social Development and Human Security, DSI and Ministry of Labor are joining forces to deal with human trafficking in Thailand. (TNA)