Agricultural workers
Individual Documents
Description:
Many Burmese working in Thailand?s rubber industry extend their stay indefinitely, as dreams of returning home with substantial savings prove elusive...
"With rubber plantations covering nearly four percent of its total land area, Thailand is the world?s largest producer and exporter of rubber. But achieving an output of more than three million tons of rubber each year takes more than just vast expanses of land. It also requires a huge workforce, and in Thailand, this comes largely courtesy of neighboring Burma.
Nobody knows exactly how many Burmese work in Thailand?s rubber plantations, but it is generally acknowledged that the industry couldn?t survive without them. Tapping the trees and harvesting the latex to make sheets of raw rubber is labor-intensive work, demanding full attention both night and day. It?s not a job that appeals to many Thais, but Burma?s crippled economy means that Thailand?s rubber plantations have no shortage of ready and willing workers..."
Kyaw Thein Kha
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" Vol. 18, No. 10
Date of publication:
2010-10-00
Date of entry/update:
2012-07-22
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Agricultural workers
Language:
English
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Description:
Conclusions:
4.1 Indications of labour exploitation
Although forced labour is negligible in Nakhon
Pathom's agriculture sector, migrant workers faced
several forms of labour exploitation, particularly a lack
of freedom of movement, and regular days off. Also,
many were not in possession of their identification
documents, while they do not receive paid leave...
4.2 Legal status and registration
Although the registration of workers provides some
legal protection and minimizes the exploitation
of migrant workers, over a third of workers in
agriculture are not registered. Approximately
two thirds of registered workers who had their
registration costs paid by the employers were in effect
bonded labour and were required to pay back the
costs via deductions from their wages. Nonetheless,
the majority of workers expressed positive attitudes
towards registration, particularly with regard to job
security, safety and health insurance. A lack of time
to register and lack of information regarding the
registration process were the main reasons why some
migrants did not register...
4.3 Working conditions
The challenges facing migrants in terms of working
conditions included very low pay, restricted freedom
of movement, long working hours without overtime
pay and not having possession of their original ID
documents. The average daily payment of 100-
150 baht per day for agricultural workers is below
the minimum wage. Low wages is one reason why
migrant workers switch farms in search of higher
wages. A high turnover of workers is of great concern
amongst employers. Yet perhaps if they were willing
to pay rates equal to or above the minimum wage,
the migrant workers would not be in such a hurry
to leave.
Nearly all migrant workers live on the site of
their workplace. Workers are isolated from the
local community and seldom integrate with the
community. None of the employers speak the
language of their migrant workers and at the same
time the majority of workers have little knowledge
of Thai. However, given the nature of farm work,
there seems little that can be done in this regard,
except perhaps consider more mobile services, which
could visit migrant workers living on farms...
4.4 Employers' attitudes
Some negative attitudes towards migrant workers
exist among employers. Well over two thirds felt
migrant workers should be locked up at night to
prevent them escaping. This view was particularly
prevalent among by livestock farmers...
4.5 Support mechanisms
Social networks play a significant role in terms of
support for migrant workers in the agricultural
sector, and family and friends provide this. More
than two thirds turn to their relatives when facing
problems or when they are in need of healthcare.
This reflects the fact that most child migrant
workers reside with their relatives or parents. None
of the workers referred to NGO staff for support.
The only chance workers had to make contact with
people was with government officials from the MOL
during the registration period. Monks or religious
leaders and employers were relatively important to
the workers. The fact that child workers rely on their
social network because they are more likely to live
with family and friends on site could perhaps help
safeguard them from exploitation in this sector...
4.6 Child labour
Under Thai law, children under the age of 15 are not
permitted to work. Although a few were interviewed,
the agriculture sector in Nakhon Pathom province
employs a greater number of children aged 15 and
up. Employers seem to regard children as being
more obedient. Children under the age of 15 were
all unregistered and underpaid when compared with
workers in other age groups. The violation of the law
and exploitation of child labour requires particular
attention.
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation
Date of publication:
2006-12-13
Date of entry/update:
2008-05-03
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
Agricultural workers, Child workers
Language:
English, Thai
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