In September 2012, foreign and online media reported that shrimp exports from Thailand were inexpensive because of the use of child labour, illegal foreign workers and human trafficking, and this has affected Thailand’s image and its seafood industry, particularly in Samut Sakhon Province which is a manufacturing base of seafood for export.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs would like to invite members of the press to conduct news reporting and attend the press briefing for the study tour of the diplomatic corps from the American and Pacific region and the EU to visit a frozen food factory and shrimp peeling facility which had been accused and referred to in a foreign media program as receiving raw material from a shrimp peeling facility that uses child labour, employs workers who do not possess work permits and engages in human trafficking.

In the morning of 16 January 2013, Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Ubumrung, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul, Mr. Phadermchai Sasomsub, Minister of Labour and Mr. Santi Promphat, Minister of Social Development and Human Security will lead the diplomatic corps from the American and Pacific region and the EU on a visit of the Operations Centre of the Royal Thai Police so that they can observe the operations of a Thai law enforcement agency responsible for the prevention and suppression of human trafficking as well as to visit Samut Sakhon Province in order to observe first hand the real situation surrounding the production of raw material of a factory that produces frozen shrimps for export and conditions in a shrimp peeling facility.  This factory had been accused and referred to in foreign news reports as receiving raw material from a shrimp peeling facility which uses child labour and employs workers who do not possess work permits, thereby making these shrimp exports inexpensive.  Furthermore, the United States has placed Thailand in the Tier 2 Watch List (which is one level above the lowest possible ranking of Tier 3) for three consecutive years in the Trafficking in Persons Report (TIP Report) of its Department of State which could affect Thailand’s image. The image of Thailand’s exports into the American market could also be affected especially for seafood products which have been determined as products that involve the use of child labour, illegal foreign workers and human trafficking.

Members of the press who are interested in conducting news reporting and attending the press briefing on the above issue are kindly requested to register with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by sending the attached registration form along with a copy of your media identification document issued by Publics Relation Department or your employer via fax to 0 2643 5107 by Monday 14 January 2013.

Note :

1. Please send the registration form along with a copy of your media identification document issued by Publics Relation Department or your employer via fax to 02 643 5107 by Monday 14 January 2013.

2. The Samut Sakhon Association of Traders would like to invite all members of the press for lunch at 12.30 – 14.00 hrs. at Ta Reu Restaurant (Seafood), Tambon Mahachai, Ampur Maung, Samut Sakhon Province.

3.  Due to limitations related to the disclosure of production technology and business competition, the Thai Royal Frozen Food factory and the Long Sor Somphon shrimp peeling facility would like to ask for your cooperation to refrain from taking photos and filming in certain areas of the factory/facility as requested.