Thailand remains on Tier 2 in the 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report issued by the United States on June 15.
The country has been listed on this tier for two consecutive years.
The report said the Thai government has not fully met the minimum standards for eliminating trafficking but has made significant efforts, such as increasing the number of trafficking investigations, prosecutions, and convictions.
“The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore, Thailand remained on Tier 2,” the report said.
The report suggested the government proactively investigate and prosecute officials allegedly complicit in facilitating trafficking, seek adequate penalties for convicted traffickers, and increase efforts to identify and protect trafficking victims exploited in forced labour in cyber scam operations arriving in Thailand.
The report also called on the government to ensure victims are not inappropriately penalised solely for unlawful acts committed as a direct result of being trafficked.
The government said earlier in March that it expected that Thailand’s status would have moved to Tier 1, meaning the country is fully compliant with the minimum standards for the elimination of severe forms of trafficking in persons. Tier 2 is not fully compliant but rather making significant efforts to that effect.
Labour Minister Suchart Chomklin said yesterday the government had put effort into combatting the matter.
The ministry has implemented standard operating procedures for the initial screening of victims of forced labour, as well as boosting the capabilities of officials overseeing the labour sector, particularly child labour, through the cooperation of related agencies, he said.
Adisorn Kerdmongkol, the coor- dinator of the Migrant Working Group (MWG), called on the government to keep improving measures against human trafficking.
Mr Adisorn called on the authorities to strictly enforce labour laws adding that it must address related corruption among state officials.
He also urged Thailand to provide suitable shelter for human trafficking victims to make them feel more comfortable during trials rather than let them stay in the Welfare Protection Centre for Victims of Trafficking in Persons.
Suthasinee Kaewleklai, coordinator for Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN), said the government should shorten the process for employing migrant workers so to reduce the chance of officials and employers exploiting workers.
Kanchana Patarachoke, director-general of the MFA’s Department of Information, on Friday said the issue is on the national agenda, adding that the government is doing its best to eradicate all forms of human trafficking.