Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha expects Thailand will move up to Tier 2 next year on the US human trafficking watch list as its serious efforts against human trafficking gain further momentum.
He was responding to the US decision announced on Monday night to keep Thailand at Tier 3 for the second year on its watch list of countries with the worst human trafficking situation.
Gen Prayut said on Tuesday that his government had no reaction to the US Trafficking in Persons (TIP) report, but would keep working to meet international standards on combatting human trafficking.
The US embassy had explained that Washington was aware of Thailand's determination to fight human trafficking but the process had just started. Thailand's continuing efforts should result in a better rating next year, Gen Prayut said.
He said the government was tackling the problem in all areas -- laws, the way officials work, punishment of corrupt officials, workers' registration, the verification of workers' nationality, and investigating employers.
"Please be calm. Do not worry. We are doing well and we are confident that this is soluble," the prime minister said.
Properly regulating the fishing industry would help Thailand meet international standards and conserve its marine resources for sustainable exploitation, he added.
Deputy government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said Thailand was neither worried nor disheartened with the Tier 3 evaluation, because it was well aware of progress in its actions.
However, the US would have to explain the criteria and facts related to its evaluation, to guarantee the reliability of its human trafficking report and prove that its evaluation was free of any hidden agenda, Maj Gen Sansern said.