With regards to media reports on an industrial action taken by workers at Golden Prize Canning plant on 25 February 2016, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, as part of the Command Center to Combat Illegal Fishing (CCCIF) wishes to make the following clarification:

             • Golden Prize Canning is a Tuna processing plant, located in Muang District, Samut Sakhon Province. There are approximately 1,700 workers (both Thais and foreigners) in this factory.  Most of them are from Myanmar. 

            • The Government has assigned Samut Sakhon’s Labour Protection and Welfare Office and the CCCIF to cooperate closely with foreign workers’ rights protecting networks, the employer’s representatives as well as a food processing association in bringing a just and timely resolution to the dispute.

            • On 25 February 2016, Samut Sakhon’s Labour Protection and Welfare Office accepted complaints from 213 employees demanding back payment for minimum wages and overtimes. On 26 and 29 February 2016, the relevant officers will go to the said plant to receive more complaints from the rest 1,485 employees. The office will process such requests in accordance with labour laws and in close collaboration with Migrant Workers Right Network (MWRN), employer’s representatives as well as a food processing association.

            • The Royal Thai Government is determined to protect the rights of workers regardless of their nationality. It has implemented a raft of policies aiming to regularize undocumented migrant workers and to combat human trafficking. The government continues to respond positively to requests and suggestions on issues relating to labour rights protection. This is done in a constructive manner and in close consultation with all relevant stakeholders including NGOs and the media in order to eliminate exploitation of workers.