With regard to the documentary broadcast by CNBC on 17 February 2018 entitled “Oceans of Crime”, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand wishes to clarify as follows:

1. The said documentary was filmed in March 2016 and, therefore, does not reflect the current situation on the ground and the progress that Thailand has made over the last three years in tackling labor issues in the fisheries sector. The measures implemented cover wide-ranging areas from policy and legal reforms to stricter law enforcement and enhanced cooperation with the private sector, the civil society and its neighboring countries. These efforts led to a significant improvement in labor practices, especially in the fisheries sector, in Thailand. In this regard, the documentary should have portrayed these aspects to present a comprehensive and balanced view of the situation.

2. The Royal Thai Government has undertaken a series of comprehensive measures to address labor problems. They include, among others, (1) the enforcement of the Royal Ordinance on Fisheries, B.E. 2558 (2015) which imposes severe punishments for employing illegal workers on fishing vessels; (2) frequent and unannounced labor inspections; (3) efficient management of migrant workers with bio-data collection; (4) the requirement that employment contracts must be drafted in migrant worker’s language and that a copy must be given for migrant workers to keep; (5) the requirement that employment contracts must stipulate that monthly wages must be transferred through bank account for payment record; (6) the stipulation that confiscating workers’ identification document is a breach of anti-human trafficking law; (7) the compulsory registration of recruitment agencies for better regulation; (8) the right for workers to change employers, particularly in the fisheries sector; and (9) a revision of labor regulations to prohibit employment of children under 18 years of age in dangerous workplaces, including the fishing and seafood processing industries.

3. Furthermore, Thailand is striving to improve its labor practices and align them with ILO standards. Thailand is drafting the Prevention and Elimination of Forced Labor Act in preparation for the ratification of the Protocol to the Forced Labor Convention (P29). Existing legislations and measures are being amended to comply with the Work in Fishing Convention (C188), as well as relevant legislations to be in line with the Convention No. 98 on the Right to Organize and Collective Bargaining.

4. In addition to the efforts undertaken by the Government, the private sector and civil society have also stepped up their work and responsibility to address illegal fishing and exploitation of labor in the fisheries sector. A good example is Thai Union, a major Thai seafood exporter, which has put in place its “SeaChange” strategy to promote fishery sustainability through ethical recruitment, maintaining good working conditions aboard fishing vessels, promoting fishermen’s rights, and setting up traceability throughout the entire supply chain. The campaign is conducted in partnership with the Seafood Task Force, a platform among the world’s leading seafood companies, as well as NGOs such as Issara Institute, Labor Rights Promotion Network Foundation (LPN), Verité, among others.

5. Thailand views that this documentary can play a positive role in raising awareness on the efforts made by all stakeholders to seek tangible solutions to the problems. Therefore, it is crucial that up-to-date information is presented to reflect the reality of the situation and balanced perspectives from all sectors to ensure that viewers receive accurate information. In this regard, Thailand is willing to work with CNBC on this matter.