Govt hits back on rights:

The Thai government insists it has done its utmost to protect workers’ rights.

It cites serious actions taken against suspected illegal workers, forced labour and illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing practices as clear proof that Thai authorities are dealing with the issue.

Deputy Commerce Minister Suvit Maesincee made the case yesterday after the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) on Wednesday said the US would review Thailand’s eligibility for trade benefits after complaints that the country was not properly safeguarding workers’ rights.

“We’re ready to update what the Thai government has done and the actions we’ve taken if solicited,” Mr Suvit said. “But we want to reaffirm that the Thai government has done its best in tackling alleged illegal workers, forced labour and IUU fishing.”

The US umbrella union group AFL-CIO said Thailand breached standards under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) — which allows duty-free access for some imports — on a range of issues such as acceptable work conditions and forced labour.

The USTR said it would hold a hearing in January on Thailand and continue its work on GSP reviews of Fiji, Georgia, Iraq, Niger, Uzbekistan and Ecuador.

Thailand exported US$27.1 billion in goods to the US in 2014, mainly machinery.

The USTR closed a review of the Philippines after that country made progress in protecting workers’ rights.

According to a Thai food industry source, the continuous negative reports issued by the US and the EU against Thailand appear to be part of a pattern of harassment by developed countries.

“We can’t help thinking about that, as the reports by the US and EU came almost at the same time,” the source said, referring to food giant Nestle’s Tuesday report alleging the use of forced labour in Thailand’s seafood supply chain and yesterday’s statement by European human rights groups that migrant workers in Thailand suffer debt bondage and other exploitation at the hands of the poultry industry.

According to research by Swedwatch and Finnwatch, excessive fees for recruitment, paperwork and social services are routinely deducted from wages, pushing workers further into debt.

The source said the Thai government had done its best to tackle labour issues and worked closely with Myanmar counterparts to address illegal workers.

“They are now trying to play a political game with Thailand,” the source said. “What they are doing is an attempt to make Thailand economically worse and instigate disgruntled people to act against the military government.”