More than a third of migrant fishermen working in Thailand over the past five years have been victims of trafficking, and three-quarters of them have been in “debt bondage, working to pay off an obligation,” said Reuters, citing a new study by the anti-trafficking group International Justice Mission.
IJM surveyed 260 fishermen from Myanmar and Cambodia. Only 13 percent claimed fair treatment at sea and no exploitative recruitment. “Three-quarters reported working at least 16 hours a day, and only 11 percent said they were paid more than 9,000 Baht ($272 U.S.) per month, the legal monthly minimum wage in Thailand,” according to Reuters.
One fisherman claimed “he was held in debt bondage, owing 20,000 Baht ($604) to his brother, who worked as a supervisor overseeing fishermen. ‘I fear for my life as he has killed in front of me before,’ he was quoted as saying. ‘I don’t dare to run. He would kill my children.’ ”
According to the study, Thailand is the world’s third-largest seafood exporter, with more than 42,000 active fishing vessels. Its fishing industry has been criticized in recent years after various investigations found widespread trafficking, slavery, and other problems. The military government has vowed to tighten its regulation of the industry, Reuters said.
The IJM study was funded by the Walmart Foundation, the charitable arm of giant U.S. retailer Wal-Mart Stores Inc.