Human trafficking: Thai seafood industry
Thailand is a mixed economy with strong sectors in tourism, manufacturing, agriculture, and services, making it one of Southeast Asia's largest economies. Historically, it avoided colonization, maintaining its independence through diplomacy. It is currently a major hub for automobile production and export. Tourism contributes significantly to GDP, with its vibrant culture, beaches, and cities attracting millions annually. Agriculture remains vital, particularly rice exports, where Thailand is a global leader. However, the economy faces challenges such as income inequality, political instability, and reliance on external demand. The government has been investing in infrastructure and initiatives like Thailand 4.0 to boost innovation and high-tech industries, aiming to transition to a value-based economy.
Key Facts
• Capital & largest city: Bangkok (11 million)• Population: 66 million
• Official language: Thai
• Exports: machine parts, integrated circuits, cars, trucks, vehicle parts
• Imports: crude petroleum, integrated circuits, gold, natural gas
• Economic profile: upper middle-income Southeast Asian economy; substantial infrastructure
Overview of the Thai Fishing Industry
Thailand is one of the world's largest seafood exporters, renowned for its production of shrimp, tuna, and fishmeal. The industry is a cornerstone of the Thai economy, contributing significantly to employment, GDP, and export revenues. In 2022, Thailand's seafood exports were valued at over $6 billion, with key markets including the United States, Japan, and the European Union. The sector employs millions of workers, both directly and indirectly, making it a critical source of livelihood for many Thai citizens and migrant workers.
However, the industry's heavy reliance on labour-intensive processes has created a demand for cheap labour, often filled by vulnerable migrant workers from neighboring countries such as Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos. These workers, many of whom lack legal documentation or access to protections, are frequently subjected to exploitation. Reports of human trafficking, forced labour, and debt bondage have tarnished the industry's reputation, despite its global success. The Thai government and international organizations have acknowledged these issues, but systemic challenges persist, including weak enforcement of labour laws, corruption, and the complex nature of global supply chains.
Role in Global Supply Chains
Thai seafood is a vital component of international supply chains, reaching major markets in the United States, Europe, and Japan. It is used in a wide range of consumer products, from frozen seafood and canned tuna to pet food and processed foods. The industry's integration into global markets has driven a focus on high-volume, low-cost production to remain competitive.
This emphasis on cost efficiency, however, has embedded labour abuses deep within the supply chain. Many multinational corporations source seafood from Thailand without adequately addressing or even recognizing the severe exploitation happening at the base of these operations. For example, shrimp peeled in Thai processing facilities or tuna caught by Thai fishing fleets often ends up on supermarket shelves or in restaurant chains worldwide, with little transparency about the conditions under which it was produced.
Despite growing awareness of these issues, corporate accountability remains limited. While some companies have adopted audits, certifications, and codes of conduct, these measures often lack rigor and fail to address the root causes of exploitation. The complexity of supply chains, with multiple tiers of subcontracting, further obscures accountability, allowing human trafficking and forced labour to persist.
Human Trafficking in the Industry
Human trafficking in Thailand's seafood industry is pervasive, ensnaring thousands of migrant workers in conditions of forced labour and debt bondage. Many workers are lured by deceptive recruitment practices, which promise legal employment, fair wages, and decent working conditions. In reality, they often arrive in Thailand already burdened by exorbitant recruitment fees, which can amount to several months' wages, leaving them financially vulnerable and indebted to brokers or employers.
Once employed, workers face a range of abuses. On fishing vessels, which can remain at sea for months or even years, labourers endure grueling conditions. Shifts often last 18 to 20 hours, with inadequate food, water, and medical care. Workers report being subjected to physical and verbal abuse, with threats of violence used to maintain control. Many have their identification documents confiscated, their wages withheld, and their movements restricted, effectively trapping them in a cycle of exploitation.
In processing facilities on land, conditions are similarly harsh. Workers, including women and children, often labour in unsafe environments with little protective equipment. Long hours, low pay, and exposure to hazardous chemicals are common. The isolation and fear experienced by these workers make it difficult for them to seek help or escape their situations.
Responses
Efforts to address labour abuses in Thailand's fishing industry have been met with mixed success. Multinational corporations have faced increasing scrutiny and pressure from consumers, advocacy groups, and governments to ensure their supply chains are free from exploitation. Some companies have initiated audits, certifications, and supplier codes of conduct, but these measures often lack transparency and fail to address the systemic nature of the problem.
The Thai government has also taken steps to combat human trafficking and labour abuses. In recent years, it has introduced stricter labour laws, increased inspections, and established mechanisms to monitor fishing vessels and processing facilities. However, inconsistent enforcement, corruption, and a lack of resources have hindered progress. For example, while some vessels are inspected, many operate in remote or international waters where oversight is minimal.
International pressure has prompted incremental reforms. The European Union, for instance, issued a “yellow card” warning to Thailand in 2015, threatening a ban on seafood imports unless the country addressed illegal fishing and labour abuses. This led to some improvements, but systemic changes are still urgently needed.
NGOs and advocacy groups continue to play a critical role in raising awareness and pushing for accountability. Campaigns targeting both corporations and governments have highlighted the need for greater transparency, worker empowerment, and legal protections. However, eradicating entrenched abuses will require sustained efforts, including stronger enforcement of labour laws, better support for migrant workers, and a commitment to ethical sourcing practices across the global seafood industry.
Questions
1. Despite widespread media coverage and online activism, why has international awareness not translated into effective on-the-ground reforms in Thailand's fishing industry, and others with abusive practices?
2. What factors might explain why audits and certifications frequently fail to address systemic exploitation?
3. Why do individuals often feel disconnected from abuses happening in distant places (like Thai fishing vessels), reducing empathy and concern?
Last updated: Spring 2025