Departments work together to beat human traffickers

Songsri admitted the ministry’s handling of human trafficking, inflicted on both migrant and Thai workers in various sectors, was poor because all five departments had worked without integration. The ministry’s key officials will meet on July 24 to discuss the master plan before submitting the issue to permanent secretary Somkiat Chayasriwong, she said.

On migrant workers, the process should begin with quotas granted by authorities from neighbouring countries. These would be followed by job placement and issuance of work permits, registration of workplaces and their employment, and their social security welfare conditions. The workers should be wellinformed of their working conditions and pay rates.

On overseas job placements for Thai workers, fraudulent job seeking firms must be suppressed while governmenttogovernment employment schemes should be further promoted to minimise overcharging of commissions and job placement costs.

A government commission on antitrafficking has been set up to tackle the problem, with all relevant agencies pooled together to integrate their operations under supervision, initially, of Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobamrung.

The first subpanel is called the Coordination Centre for Farming Sector, with offices in the coastal provinces of Samut Sakhon, Rayong, Trat, Chumphon, Songkhla, Ranong and Satun.

Chalerm, speaking at yesterday's inauguration of the commission, said the operation would encourage workers in hiding to come out, to register and work legally in Thailand. The centre has been supervised by Interior and Labour Ministries and the Fishery Department and will be evaluated every six months.

Police have arrested four men for allegedly smuggling Cambodians and assigning them for domestic and factory work in Bangkok and Samut Sakhon. The suspects are alleged ring leader Samai Duangkaew, and three taxi drivers Triamrach Kerdsuk, Saman Moolsuwan and Phet Prathumsoot, who have been charged with smuggling foreigners.

Also arrested were 27 Cambodians including 12 women, who have been charged with illegal entry. They said they each paid an agent based in Sa Kaew Bt1,200 in commission and Bt300 for a taxi fee.