For far too long, Thailand has grappled with the insidious issue of human trafficking. This heinous crime has tarnished the country's reputation -- not to mention diminishing the country's competitiveness on the global stage.
The recent decision by Finland to suspend visa applications from Thai berry pickers highlights the gravity of this situation. This move is not merely a bureaucratic manoeuvre; it is a stark condemnation of Thailand's failure to address rampant human rights abuses related to labour.
Thailand's substandard global ranking concerning human trafficking speaks for itself. The US State Department's 2023 Trafficking in Persons (TIP) Report has put the country in Tier 2 for two consecutive years. The report underscores the fact Thailand has not met the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, despite efforts to do so.
Without a doubt, the government has been trying to solve the problem. In the past, it has boosted resources such as the number of staff investigating and prosecuting traffickers. The National Referral Mechanism (NRM) has been formed to oversee and speed up prosecutions.
So, what is holding back improvements? One problem occurs in the investigation and prosecution process. For example, officials are criticised for not providing adequate protection to victims exploited in cyber scam operations in neighbouring countries. In some cases, forced labourers in cyber scams are not treated as trafficking victims as they should be, according to the report.
The Finnish government's decision to suspend visa applications, specifically targeting Thai berry pickers, underscores the persisting problems related to human trafficking in Thailand. Finland's Ministry for Foreign Affairs says the decision was made against a backdrop of allegations of severe crimes committed against migrant workers during the 2023 berry picking season.
Though few details have not given, the decision is thought to stem from charges filed by the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) against two former ministers and two high-level officials at the Labour Ministry, who allegedly demanded 36 million baht in exchange for approving the export of Thai workers to Finland.
According to the DSI, a group of politicians, civil servants, and civilians demanded that a Thai job broker pay an average of 3,000 baht for each worker harvesting wild berries in the Scandinavian country.
Consequently, the broker passed on this special requirement for about 12,000 Thai workers exported from 2020 to 2023.
The Thai government must take immediate action to address this pressing issue. Merely paying lip service to anti-trafficking efforts is no longer enough.
Meaningful measures must be implemented to protect the rights of all individuals within Thailand's borders, regardless of their nationality or immigration status.
The Finnish government's decision should serve as a wake-up call for Thai authorities to reassess their approach to combating human trafficking, particularly at the policymaking level.
If it fails to act, Thai workers (such as those who will now miss out on a berry-picking visa) will suffer.
As Thailand aspires to be a respected member of the global community, it must prioritise the protection of human rights and the eradication of human trafficking.
Failure to do so not only jeopardises Thailand's reputation but also undermines its long-term economic and social stability.