Thailand is stepping up efforts to secure a better ranking in the US State Department's anti-human trafficking index, with the aim of moving up from the Tier 2 Watchlist to Tier 2.
In June, Thailand was upgraded from Tier 3, which includes Syria, Iran, North Korea, and other countries with poor rights records, to Tier 2 Watchlist, which defines countries as not fully complying with the US Trafficking Victims Protection Act, but which are making significant efforts to do so.
Deputy Prime Minister Gen Prawit Wongsuwon vowed Monday to lift Thailand up to Tier 2 by bolstering measures to combat human trafficking next year.
"We have to make [graduating to Tier 2] part of this government's tenure," he said after a meeting with executives of the Labour Ministry on labour rights protection.
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Under the regime's road map, a general election is due to be held late next year.
Gen Prawit believes US authorities have been impressed with the government's efforts to resolve issues related to human trafficking, and in turn moved the country from Tier 3 to the country Tier 2 Watchlist.
Though the country's rights situation still requires concerted efforts, Gen Prawit said the new standing will serve as an important step from which Thailand can move further.
The deputy prime minister suggested long-term measures he believes can help solve labour abuse, such as more focused and effective law enforcement to prevent and tackle human trafficking.
He told the Labour Ministry to work closely with the Office of the Civil Service Commission to increase the number of labour inspection officials. Their numbers should be adequate to ensure all workers' rights are protected by law.
Upgrading laws, especially those in the fishing industry, must also be emphasised to ensure fishermen, both Thais and migrant workers, have equal access to labour and social rights.
The Thai fishing industry has been plagued by problems for years, but the situation gained serious attention from the government last year when the European Union said Thailand had not done enough to stop illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, known as IUU.
On April 21, 2015, the EU gave Thailand a "yellow card," which serves as a final warning against such unacceptable practices.
The European bloc had also threatened to ban imports of Thai seafood if the situation did not improve.
In response to the EU's concerns, the government has launched several measures against IUU, including the establishment of the Command Centre for Combatting Illegal Fishing, which includes a unit assigned to suppress forced labour and human trafficking.
It has also carried out measures to regulate what types of fishing gear can be used.
This is to ensure appropriate and sustainable fishing methods to prevent the decimation of marine life.
Gen Prawit said he is pleased with these efforts, which are also recognised by EU officials.
In mid-October, he said, EU officials inspected Thailand's fishing industry, following which they expressed satisfaction with Thailand's efforts, he said.
However, despite any such praise, in April the EU slammed Thailand for running a "propaganda campaign" to publicise the "positive side" of its efforts to clamp down on illegal fishing and criticised the country for not doing enough to address the problem.
