Most people in an opinion survey think the human-trafficking situation in Thailand is worse than last year, according to a poll conducted by the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida Poll).
The survey was carried out on May 3-4 on 1,250 people throughout the country.
Some 36.6% of the respondents said the situation was worse than last year while 35.12% said it remained unchanged. Another 26.3% said it had improved while 2% were uncertain.
Asked what should be done to improve the situation, the respondents said authorities must be more serious in dealing with the problem (54.2%), heavier penalties should be imposed on government officials found involved in human trafficking (50.5%), people's networks against human trafficking should be created by communities and non-governmental organisations (27.8%), the database on human trafficking should be upgraded and modernised (23.8%), people should be educated on adverse effects of human-trafficking (23.5%) and social welfare should be extended to take care of human-trafficking victims (22%).
On the agencies which should take part in solving the problem, the respondents mentioned the Social Development and Human Security Ministry (64.2%); the Royal Thai Police (52.6%); the general public and NGOs (41.1%); the Interior Ministry (40.4%); the Labour Ministry (39.3%); the Education Ministry (35.9%); the Justice Ministry (35.7%); the Foreign Ministry (32.2%); the Office of Attorney General (29.8%); the Public Health Ministry (29.4%); the Tourism and Sports Ministry (28.2%); and, other agencies including the Culture Ministry and National Council for Peace and Order (0.6%).