A forum titled “Who Are the Demons in Thai Fisheries?” saw civil society present five proposals urging the government to fix the failing system before Thailand loses global trade opportunities. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labor is speeding up efforts to resolve labor shortages by importing workers from Sri Lanka.
Today (14 Aug 2026), the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of Thailand (FCCT) and the Migrant Workers’ Network Group (MWG) organized a press conference and forum on the topic “Remove the Yellow Card, Get the Red Card: Real Life Is More Dramatic Than a Series—Who Are the Demons in Thai Fisheries?” to highlight human rights violations and migrant labor management issues on fishing vessels, alongside showing short videos “Breaking the Demonic Cycle: A Billion-Baht Industry Trading Workers’ Lives for 2,000 Baht” and “The Demon Cycle of Fishery Labor: Wounds, Debt, and Global Illusions” exposing how the fishery labor problem is escalating into a national economic crisis.
At the start of the press conference, Thidarat Yingcharoen, advisor to the Minister of Labor, outlined government policy direction, acknowledging that the fishery industry is often seen as a “black box” difficult to monitor, especially regarding wage standards. Currently, the Fishery Association has proposed paying wages in cash due to restrictions on hiring migrant workers. The ministry plans to discuss this matter with the minister to find a solution.
Regarding the labor shortage crisis, the ministry has extended MOUs for workers from three nationalities and is preparing to expand to new markets by negotiating an MOU with Sri Lanka, planning to pilot-import 10,000 workers, with considerations also underway for Bangladesh and Nepal.
Additionally, to address global trade barriers (FTA, OECD, US 301), the Ministry of Labor has established a committee to manage forced labor in supply chains, collaborating with the Ministry of Commerce and Customs Department. They use the ILO’s 11 forced labor indicators to prevent Thai products from being linked to forced labor. The ministry concluded by stating the real demon is the fragmented approach to work, and this government is ready to open dialogue with all parties.
Natthawut Kasem, senior officer at the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), disclosed findings from a 2024–2026 study involving interviews with 238 fishery workers on 90 vessels, revealing widespread forced labor indicators. Ninety-eight percent had their identity documents confiscated, faced substandard working and living conditions below international standards, and worked hours exceeding legal limits.
Natthawut emphasized this is not merely a human rights issue but an "economic survival" matter. In 2024, Thailand exported seafood worth over 88 billion baht, with more than 69.4% sent to markets strict on human rights, such as the European Union. Negotiations for the Thailand-EU FTA and European imports are inevitably tied to supply chain compliance regulations.
During the main forum “Real Life More Dramatic Than a Series: Who Are the Demons in Thai Fisheries?” three demons afflicting the industry were identified:
Demon 1: “Demon of Hazardous Work”
Nataya Phetarat from the Stella Maris Center for Seafarers in Songkhla pointed out that although laws require safety equipment on vessels, the government lacks support for skills training, resulting in crew unable to properly use safety gear (e.g., inability to perform CPR for man-overboard incidents). Compensation fund laws have loopholes and poor publicity. Workers live under stress due to lack of long-term strategic planning.
Demon 2: Demon of Unequal Power and Prejudice
Nirunuch Jitsom, vice president of the Confederation of Thai Trade Unions (SsoRT), stated the worst demon is prejudice and racial discrimination. The government is pushing for Thailand to join the OECD, which requires respecting labor rights, yet Thailand neglects to ratify ILO Conventions 87 and 98 related to rights to organize and collective bargaining, citing security concerns. SsoRT has submitted a letter to the OECD representatives demanding five points to pressure Thailand to seriously address labor rights violations.
Demon 3: “Demon of Laws and Systems”
Sahatsawat Khumkhong, MP of the Prachachon Party and Labor Commission member, asserted that the demon is the entire system. Laws have loopholes, enforcement is slow and complicated. The migrant worker registration system creates financial burdens and opportunities for corruption. Without serious commitment from the Ministry of Labor, this issue will erode confidence in global trade forums, especially during FTA negotiations with the EU. The government is overly fearful of adopting international standards.
Adisorn Kerdmongkol, MWG coordinator, summarized that the demon is not an individual or a single vessel but the slow, cumbersome system creating debt burdens for workers. Recently, the ILO expert committee requested the Thai government to clarify concerns regarding compliance with Convention C188, but Thailand continues to delay, harming its credibility.
The network has submitted five proposals to the government and Ministry of Labor:
1. Upgrade fisheries labor protection laws to comply with ILO Convention C188 without lowering existing standards.
2. Improve access to social security and healthcare for fishery workers to meet international standards.
3. Recognize rights to organize and bargain collectively by ratifying ILO Conventions 87 and 98 and amending the Labor Relations Act.
4. Establish comprehensive human rights and environmental monitoring measures throughout the supply chain to maintain trade competitiveness (e.g., Thailand-EU FTA).
5. Develop a sustainable strategic plan to solve labor shortages with participation from all sectors.
“If Thailand wants to be a leader in sustainable fisheries, these demons must be eliminated through legal reforms, serious enforcement, and clear political will,” Adisorn said.
Forum participants and civil society networks concluded by holding symbolic signs sending a clear message to the government that “The demon in the Thai fisheries industry is the management system.”