Foreign Ministry emphasises sustainable solutions to IUU, human trafficking

BANGKOK, June 1 (TNA) -- The Foreign Ministry and the police announced that they brought about 1,000 victims of illegal fishing back to the country and was proceeding with sustainable solutions to the problem. Busadee Santipitaks, spokesperson of the ministry, and Pol Col Mana Kleepsatabut, deputy commander of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Division, said since 2014, 1,694 victims of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing had been rescued back to Thailand and 40 of them were victims of human trafficking. Some of them left for work on fishing boats voluntarily but found out later that their employment contracts were not fulfilled. There were 35 suspects last year and 28 of them were arrested. This year there were 25 suspects and seven of them were apprehended, Pol Col Mana said. Miss Busadee suggested the people who wanted to work abroad should check their employment contracts thoroughly in advance and should not focus too much on claimed salaries. Such jobseekers could verify information about their potential jobs with authorities to avoid being victimized and the Foreign Ministry was determined to support sustainable solutions to human trafficking to eliminate the problem, she said. (TNA)