Catherwood LibraryILR School

Thai government officials recently amended a law in order to “crack down” on slave labor and trafficking. Under newly amended legislation, offenders who are found guilty can be jailed and fined, with additional penalties reliant on whether or not the victim of forced labor was harmed. Human rights specialists believe that this legislation shows that the Thai government is taking forced labor seriously, and intends to protect migrant workers. Thailand was the first country in Asia to ratify the International Labor Organization’s forced labor protocol. However, in Thai legislation the definition of forced labor remains unclear and victims’ advocates are hesitant to praise legislative improvements until they are proven to be enforced consistently.