RESEARCH REPORT

Research Title A Study on Child Labor in Deep-sea Fishing and Fish-sorting

Business in Pattani Province
Author Dr. Marut Damcha-om
Year of Study 2000-2001

Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the conditions of children
working as crew on deep-sea fishing boats, and of fish-sorting girls in Pattani
Province with respect to their working and living conditions, earnings and
welfare, health care, as well as the opinions concerning child employment of
the owners of deep-sea fishing boats and fish-sorting business.
The samples of this study were 45 child laborers, accidentally selected
from those working on 100 deep-sea fishing boats at the Pattani harbor from
August 2000 to January 2001, and 165 fish-sorters, randomly selected from
300 child laborers in fish-sorting business. In collecting the data, a structured
interview schedule and the focus-group discussion technique were used.
It was found that deep-sea fishing child laborers were nighttime workers,
and earned 700-3,000 baht per month without any health insurance for
sickness or accident. Likewise, most fish-sorting child laborers were nighttime
toilers for 6-13 consecutive hours, earned approximately 1,000-3,000 baht per
month without any health insurance for sickness or work hazards, and had to
endure bad work environment.
It was recommended that all business owners comply with Labor
Protection Law. For instance, labor should be registered, and appropriate
wages, welfare and work environment should be provided. Government
agencies should encourage business owners to comply with Labor Protection
Law. A center for children to be established at the port as a place where
children can rest and play during work breaks and as venue for education,
training or other informative activities to improve their quality of life.

Keywords: child labor, deep-sea fishing child laborers, fish-sorting child

laborers
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A Study on Child Labor in Deep-sea Fishing and Fish-

sorting Business in Pattani Province

Research Report

I. Background

Pattani is a province in the lower South of Thailand, bordered on the east by

the Gulf of Thailand. The economy of the province is largely dependent on
marine industry, comprising at least 29% of the Gross Provincial Product in
1994 and has continued to grow since that time. At the Pattani river mouth in
Muang District, fishing boats of various sizes come to harbor. Here fish and
other marine products are unloaded and sorted before being sent to industries
or other places for sale. There are at least 157 fish processing enterprises in
the harbor, mostly small in scale. Key markets of the fish products from this
harbor are found in Singapore and Malaysia. (source of information?).
Everyday, the harbor teams with workers for the various fish catching, fish
processing, and marketing enterprises. Among these workers are children.

Child labour is any work that endangers the life, health, well-being and
development of a child. 1 Most of the children in the East Asia and the Pacific
region work. For the majority of the children, work is constructive and
beneficial to their families. However, there is a large number of children who
are in jobs that are developmentally inappropriate and harmful to their
physical, intellectual, social, and moral development. Their work also deprives
them of their right to education, rest and recreation and often entails living
away from their families. In the long run, child labour exacts costs on the
nation.

In Thailand most recognized child labourers are in Bangkok and neighboring

areas. They are employed to make garments, bags, footgear and ornaments;
do lapidary works; fix cars and motorcycles, or work at gas stations or in
restaurants. Data from the Department of Social Welfare and Labor Protection
(what year?) shows that 85 % of child labor are between 15 and 17 years old.
2

As a result of campaigns calling the government attention to the alarming

situation of working children in Thailand and after encountering trade
difficulties because of child labour employment in the production of some
export materials in early 1990’s3, Thailand seriously addressed its child labour
problem, setting in place its policies and strengthening education as a
response to the problem. Parents, legal guardians, and children are

1
Children in Need of Special Protection, A UNICEF Perspective, p. 15, UNICEF 2000.
2
(www.dlpw.go.th/situa_01.html)
3
Thailand was put in a difficult situation when big importing countries like the United
States and EU pressed Thailand to improve labor standards, particularly child labor;
otherwise tariff privileges as specified by Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
would not be granted. There was also a sanction on commodities produced by child
workers under 15.
 3
informed of children’s rights, and the inherent value of education and other
basic services for children, and government and private sectors are mobilized
to provide for children. Occupational skills training are organized for children
before they enter labor market at the right age. Volunteers for labor
protection and child labor elimination in each village are recruited.
Government agencies such as the Department of Education and the
Department of Social Welfare grant more scholarships to students.

To comply with the standards of ILO and its national educational policy,
Thailand has enforced the Labor Protection Act (1998), restricting the
minimum age requirement for work from 13 to 15. Minors are thus barred
from entering labor market until the age of 15. Employment of children also
decreased because many entrepreneurs were out of business due to the
economic downfall.

Compared with previous years therefore, employment of minors aged 15-17

considerably decreased. The Social Security Office reported that in July 2000
there were about 55,000 child workers while in March 1998 there were
230,000 and in December 1998 there were approximately 125,000 child
laborers. Indeed, there is a decreasing trend in the incidence of Thai child
workers.

However, for more than a decade now, Thailand has also seen the rise in
number of migrant and trafficked children from within the country and from
bordering countries- Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. 4 Some of the children
come together with families, some with their other relatives or friends, some
come alone or with peers, and some come in through brokers. Thus, while
there are less Thai child labourers now, there could still be a larger number of
child workers in Thailand not reflected in national surveys, given the influx of
migrant child workers who are largely undocumented.
5
Problems Encountered by Child Workers in Thailand

1) Lack of Education and Occupational Skills: Most child laborers are

poor and uneducated. Chances for these children to get further
education or occupational skills training are very slim.
2) Poor Quality of Life: Most children are toiling for longer hours than
ordinary children can endure. They earn little income, stay and
work in unhealthy environment. In addition, the meals provided by
employers are unwholesome for growing children.
3) Work Hazards: Dangers are induced by child workers’ lack of skills
and longer hours of work, coupled with employers’ inattention of
safety.
4) Adjustment Problem: Growing children are suffering from emotional
and physical changes. Their working conditions do not provide the
stimulation for proper physical and mental development.
5) Exploitation of Child Labor

Child labour in fisheries. While majority of child workers in Thailand work in

agriculture, interventions addressing their situation have not been placed as a
priority, mainly because work the children often work with their families, not
away from home, or because work in the farms are considered less hazardous.
4
Migrant Children in Especially Difficult Circumstances in Thailand, AMRC, 1998
5
(www.dlpw.go.th/situa_01_01.html)
 4
Work in fisheries, has similarly attracted less attention from organizations
addressing child labour for the same assumptions.

As the fisheries sectors developed rapidly in Thailand in the past years,

demand for labour in this sector increased, too. Many Thai children in rural
areas coming from poor families and who still have inadequate access to
education, not reached by existing government programs and development
opportunities opt to work in fisheries. The labour demand in this industry also
attracted migrant workers from abroad. This is true for Pattani province.

Child labour in fisheries in Pattani Province. In 1998, a groundbreaking

research on child labour in fisheries in Pattani was conducted by a team
commissioned by Planned Parenthood Association of Thailand, headed by Ms.
Kalaya Nitiruangjaras. About 7,080 child labourers were identified, i.e. 269
children working at sorting fish; 148 children in factories; 1,408 children
aboard fishing boats and 5,255 children working at fishing in villages. The
research aimed to know the working conditions of the children and
recommend actions to improve their situation. That research triggered
interests on the issue and placed children’s work in fisheries among the
concerns of child labour programs in Thailand.

Importance of this Study. The findings of the 1998 study coupled with
personal experiences of the researcher as an educator from the province
inspired this current research. The study focuses on only two groups of the
children identified earlier – the children working as fish sorters and the
children working in deep sea fishing. The study also highlights perspectives of
the employers. Similar to the earlier study, results of this research will be used
to design forthcoming programs directly addressing the children’s situation.

The present study will be undertaken within the conceptual framework

established by (1) the International Labor Organization (ILO) ’s Conventions
138 and 182 with respect to minimum age requirements for work and the
worst forms of child labor, and (2) Thailand’s Labor Protection Act (1998) and
Ministerial Order No. 10 (1998) with respect to child labor and labor protection
in fishing business

II. Objectives
This study aims to

1. Investigate the conditions of children working on deep-sea fishing

boats, and in fish-sorting business in Pattani Province with respect to their
working and living conditions, earnings and welfare, health care, as well as the
opinions concerning child employment of the owners of deep-sea fishing boats
and fish-sorting businesses.

2. Generate recommendations for actions to address the situation of the

children

II. Scope and Limitations of the Study

1. Population and Samples

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The population of this study were child laborers under the age of 18
who worked on deep-sea fishing boats or in fish-sorting business at the Pattani
harbor from August 2000 to January 2001. The samples were 45 child
laborers, accidentally selected from those working on 100 deep-sea fishing
boats at the Pattani harbor from August 2000 to January 2001, and 165 fish-
sorters, randomly selected from 300 child laborers in fish-sorting business.

2. The variables in this study include:

2.1Conditions of work and living: hours of work, forms of work, meals

provided, accommodation, rest and leisure
1.1Earnings and welfare: wages and welfare received
1.2Health care and health insurance
1.3Opinions of the owners of deep-sea fishing boats and fish-sorting
businesses concerning child employment and child labor rights

Definition of Terms
Child laborers: children under the age of 18 working in deep-sea
fishing and fish-sorting businesses in Pattani from August 2000 to January
2001
Deep-sea fishing child laborers: children under the age of 18
working on deep-sea fishing boats harbored in Pattani from August 2000 to
January 2001
Fish-sorting child laborers: children under the age of 18 working as
fish-sorters in Pattani from August 2000 to January 2001

II. Review of Literature

The Convention on the Rights of the Child (www.dlpw.go.th/law_02.html)

The Convention on the Rights of the Child is the first legally binding
international instrument to incorporate the full range of human rights—civil
and political rights as well as economic, social and cultural rights. This
Convention recognizes the need to extend particular care to the child, as has
been stated in the Geneva Declaration of the Rights of the Child of 1924 and in
the Declaration of the Rights of the Child adopted by the General Assembly on
20 November 1959, and recognized in the Universal Declaration of Human
Rights of 1948 concerning the welfare of children. The Convention on the
Rights of the Child was adopted and opened for signature, ratification and
accession by the UN General Assembly resolution 44/25 of 20 November 1989.
It entered into force 2 September 1990, in accordance with article 49.

The Convention has 3 main parts and covers 54 articles,

(www.dlpw.go.th/law_02.html) Part I (articles 1-41) deals with the principles
and the rights children are entitled to. Part II (articles 42-45) concerns the
principles and provisions of the Convention the ratifying countries have to
comply with. Part III (articles 46-54) specifies procedures, provisions and
enforcement of the Convention.

In Part I, 6 principles can be identified. (www.dlpw.go.th/law_02.html)

1) General principle as specified in articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 11, 12, 13,
14, 15, 16, 25, 30, 38, and 41. This principle ensures that the child
 6
is given protection and care as is necessary for his/her well-being.
It also recognizes the child’s right to life; his or her economic, social,
educational and cultural rights; the right to freedom of expression,
and freedom of association. To avoid negative impacts of the
enforcement of the Convention, article 41 states that “Nothing in the
present Convention shall affect any provisions which are more
conducive to the realization of the rights of the child and which may
be contained in (a) the law of a State party or (b) international law in
force for that State.
2) Protection of life, freedom and safety as specified in articles 19, 32,
33, 34, 35, 36, and 39. This principle recognizes the right of the
child to be protected from economic exploitation; from all forms of
physical or mental violence, injury or abuse, neglect or negligent
treatment, maltreatment or exploitation, including sexual abuse;
from the use of children in illicit production and trafficking of narcotic
drugs and psychotropic substances; and from all other forms of
exploitation prejudicial to any aspects of the child’s welfare. In
addition, the Convention states that the State party shall take all
appropriate measures to promote physical and psychological
recovery and social reintegration of a child victim of any form of
aforementioned exploitation and abuse.
3) Provision of Social Welfare as specified in articles 17, 24, 26, 28, 29,
and 31. This principle recognizes the right of the child to have
access to information and material of social and cultural benefit to
the child; the right to the enjoyment of the highest attainable
standard of health, the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of
health; the right to education directed to the development of the
child’s personality, to the preparation of the child for responsible life
in a free society, and to the development of respect for the natural
environment; and the right to rest and leisure as well as to
participate freely in cultural life and the arts.
4) Protection of civil rights as specified in articles 7, 8, 9, 10, 18 and 27.
This is to protect the rights of a child as a citizen of the State. Such
rights include the right from birth to a name, the right to acquire a
nationality, the right to know and be cared for by his or her parents
or legal guardians. For the purpose of guaranteeing and promoting
such rights, the State shall render assistance to parents and legal
guardians.
5) Protection of the child committing offences as specified in articles 37
and 40. This principle recognizes the right of the child alleged as
having infringed the penal law to be treated with humanity and
respect for dignity of the human person. The child will be treated
differently from the adult. The arrest, detention or imprisonment of
a child shall be in conformity with the law, shall be used only as a
measure of last resort and for the shortest appropriate period of
time. In addition, capital punishment or life imprisonment without
possibility of release shall not be imposed for offences committed by
children below 18.
6) Protection of deprived children as specified in articles 20,21,22,23.
This is to protect and assist a child deprived of his or her family
environment, a child seeking refugee status or considered a refugee,
and a mentally or physically disabled child. These children are
entitled to appropriate protection and humanitarian assistance in the
enjoyment of applicable rights set forth in the Convention.
 7
The Convention provides the framework for governments and programs in
looking into the situation of children and designing social policies and program
interventions for children. The same framework must apply to our analysis of
the situation of the children in the coastal areas of Pattani.

Child Labour in Fishing Industry in Pattani

A study on child labor in fishing industry in Pattani, Kalaya Nitiruangcharat et

al. (1998) found that child laborers on deep-sea fishing boats and in fish-
sorting business received no welfare (no vacation or sick leave, and no health
insurance) from their employers. Sometimes fish-sorting child laborers had to
work for two days and two nights without rest, had to sleep on the sidewalks
and gained access to no bathrooms. Deep-sea fishing child laborers were not
in a better situation. They were confined to spaces on the boats and their
unhealthy work environment was conducive to stress, aggression, quarrel,
drug addiction and HIV infection. . It is expected that those involving in
fishing business and employing child labor will make use of the findings of this
study to improve working conditions, standard of living, and quality of life of
their employees. A summary overview of the state of child workers in the
sampling follows.

Children sorting fish are hired to separate the catch according to size and type
of fish. These children come mostly from farm families which average about 6
persons per family. Out of 5 children sorting fish, 2 also are attending school.
Those children who have left school already had mostly completed primary
school. The fish docks are a labour market for children who need to find work
in order to earn some income. There are no requirements in terms of
educational level or labour skills, but the pay is quite low. The work is not
suitable for children because the hours are long. The children have to work in
shifts which are unsuitable for youngsters, i.e. midnight to 6.00 AM. Hiring is
by the job, according to the size of the particular task. The amount of work to
be dome and the turnover of workers may be the reason that the owners have
arranged no welfare benefits for these workers, for example, in terms of the
character of the workplace, or for those coming in to work who should have a
place to rest momentarily, get something the drink, use the toilet or rest in the
nurses office.

Child Labour Regulations in Thailand

Employment Not Accessible to Children under 18:

(www.dlpw.go.th/law_01_06.html)
1) Metal melting, casting or shaping
2) Metal molding
3) works involving excess heat, frozenness, vibration, noise and light
that might be
hazardous to health
4) hazardous chemical works
5) toxic microbiological works
6) works involving toxic, explosive and flammable objects, except work
at gas stations
7) operation of a crane or tipple
8) operation of an electric or motor saw
9) works carried underground, underwater, in a cave, a tunnel or a
crater
 8
10) radioactive works
11) cleaning of the machine while in operation
12) Works carried on a scaffold 10 meters or over above the ground
13) other works as specified by ministerial orders

Workplaces Not Accessible to Children Under 18:

(www.dlpw.go.th/law_01_07.html)
1) slaughterhouses
2) gambling houses
3) dance halls
4) places where food, liquor and other kinds of drinks are served by
waiters or
waitresses, or where lodging and massage are serviced.
5) Other places as specified by ministerial orders

Hours of Employment Not Accessible to Children Under 18

(www.dlpw.go.th/law_01_08.html)
1) No overtime employment or employment during holidays are
accessible to children
under 18 since such employment would be hazardous to their health.
2) Child employment from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. is not permitted
unless permission is granted by the Director of the Labor
Department or those whom authority is vested. However, certain
jobs have to be carried out from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. and
therefore special permission must be requested.
3) Legally, employers may assign child actors/actresses, movie stars, or
performers to act or perform from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m., provided
that ample rest is granted. However, child actors are at present
paid on the basis of works accomplished, not for their labor.
Therefore, child actors are not protected by Labor Law.

III. Research Methodology (research methods

used,subjects of the study, sampling technique,
instruments in gathering data, statistical treatment)
1. Access to the Respondents

As an entry strategy, the researchers organized mobile medical services and

health education activities for children in the area. Exhibitions and training on
sexually transmitted diseases, HIV infection, drugs addiction and suppression
were organized. Some child workers attending the exhibitions and training
were selected for focus-group discussion

2. Data Collection

An in-depth interview was used in data collection. Trained research

assistants collected the data, using a structured interview schedule designed
by the researcher. Included in the interview were the following headings:
1.1Basic information on child labor: gender, age and nationality
1.2Working and living conditions
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1.3Earnings and welfare
1.4Health care

Focus group discussions were conducted with some of the participants in the
health education activities.

2. Data Analysis
Percentages were used in data analysis. Qualitative data drawn from
interview and focus-group discussion were used in describing the findings.

IV. Research Findings, Conclusions, and

Recommendations
1. Deep-sea Fishing Child Laborers

45 child laborers were accidentally selected from those working on 100

deep-sea fishing boats harbored in Pattani from August 2000 to January 2001.

1.1 Basic Information

1.1.1 53.33% of deep-sea fishing child laborers were Thai, 33.33%
Cambodians and 13.33 % were Burmese.
1.1.2 55.56% of Thai laborers were from provinces in the Northeast
such as Khon Kaen, Nong Khai, Sisaket, Sakon Nakhon, Udon
Thani, Nong Bua Lamphu, and Buriram. The rest (44.44%) were
from provinces in the South such as Songkhla, Pattani, Yala and
Narathiwat.
1.1.3 All deep-sea fishing child laborers were male.
1.1.4 82.22% of deep-sea fishing child laborers were between 15 and
17 years of age; 17.78 % were between 12 and 14 years of age.
1.1.5 71.77% of these laborers spoke Thai fluently; 24.44% could
speak, read and write Thai; only 4.44% could not speak, read and
write Thai.
1.1.6 64.44% of these laborers received no education; 26.66%
completed primary education Grade 6; and 48.89% completed
Grade 4.

1.2 Working and Living Conditions

64 For each trip, deep-sea fishing crew spent 10-15 days at sea, sometimes
a month. They were working from 6.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. and spent
the day resting. The crew were provided with three free meals a day by
their employers.

1.3 Earnings and Welfare

Deep-sea fishing child laborers earned 700-3,000 baht a month.
31.11% of the labor earned 800 baht a month; 26.67% 3,000 baht a month;
and 22.22% earned 1,000 baht a month. Three meals a day, drinking water
and household remedies were provided while the crew were on board.
 10
1.4 Health Care
From the interview, it was found that no life or accident insurance was
arranged for child employees. At sea, when the crew were ill or had an
accident, they resorted to first-aid and household remedies. However, it was
found that 86.67% of the labor had never been ill. Common illness included
having a common cold, and having rotting hands and fingers. Accident on
board included injury caused by the striking of otter boards and fishing gear.

2. Fish-sorting Child Laborers

Through simple random sampling, 165 fish-sorters out of 300 fish-sorting
child laborers at the Pattani harbor were selected.

2.1 Basic Information

All fish-sorting laborers were Thai girls residing in Pattani, aged 10-17.
61.41% of the workers were 15-17 years old. 87.5% could speak, read and
write Thai while 7% could not speak, read and write Thai. 62.07% of fish-
sorters completed primary education Grade 6. About 5% received no
education. Most fish-sorters commuted from home to the harbor; only 5.8%
stayed with their employers at the harbor.

2.2 Working and Living Conditions

Each day fish-sorters did not spend the same amount of time working,
depending on the quantity of marine catch and number of workers involved.
Usually they worked for 6-13 hours a day and at least 3 hours was spent each
day. The time of work was not certain depending on when the boats came
ashore. However, most workers started working from 6.00 p.m. onward.

2.3 Earnings and Welfare

42.93% of fish-sorting child workers earned about 1,000-2,000 baht a
month. The maximum earnings was 3,500 baht a month. This was rather rare
(less than 2%). Child workers residing in the village had to spend 25-50 baht
per day for bus fares from home to the harbor. Few workers were given
accommodations by employers, and only 35.81% of employers provided fish-
sorters with drinking water while working.

2.4 Health Care

From the interview, it was learned that 2/3 of these fish-sorters had
never had accident from work. Accidents encountered included slip and fall,
and being pricked by fish scales and fins. No cure at all was provided by
employers.

3. Employers of Child Labor

Owners of deep-sea fishing boats and fish-sorting business were

interviewed for their opinions concerning child employment and children’s
rights.

3.1 Opinions of the Owners of Deep-sea Fishing Boats

Deep-sea fishery requires workers with stamina, strength and
endurance. Thus, male labor is preferred. It was found that adult labor was
preferred to child labor because child workers were rather weak, less
experienced and careless. However, child labor and adult labor were treated
on the same par with respect to work assigned, wages and welfare.
It was found that child labor was not preferred because employers did
not want to deal with police officers and authorities from Labor Department.
 11
Owners of these fishing boats admitted that they were not aware of the
rights child labor was entitled to.

3.2.Opinions of the Owners of Fish-sorting Business

75% of the employers preferred adult labor. They reasoned that adult
workers were more patient and experienced and worked faster than children.
However, some employers preferred child labor because young workers were
active, swift and rather obedient. Fish-sorting employers treated child labor
and adult labor alike with respect to work assigned, earning or welfare. Some
employers paid special attention to child labor’s safety and acquaintances of
the opposite sex. None of these employers were aware of the rights child
labor was entitled to.

Discussion

1. Gender and Type of Work

It was found that all deep-sea child laborers were male while all fish-
sorting child laborers were female. Apparently, sex segregation is in operation
for these two types of work. Fish-sorting requires no special skills nor physical
strength. It is not a risky undertaking and seems suitable for females. Deep-
sea fishing, on the other hand, is a risky work which demands strength and
practical fishing skills. Males are thus more eligible.
However, no matter what type of work they are engaged in, these child
laborers should be well taken care of by foremen and business owners alike.

2. Age and Educational Attainment of Child Labor, and Labor Law

It was found that deep-sea child laborers were between 12 and 17 years
of age; 18% of whom were under 15. Fish-sorting child laborers were between
10 and 17 years of age; 39% of whom were under 15. This employment is
against Labor Protection Act (1998), Article 44, which prohibits employment of
children under 15; and also against the ILO’s Convention 138, which restricts
the minimum working age at 15. In addition, the Convention 138 specifies
that children are allowed to get access to employment when they are beyond
the required age of compulsory education. However, in this present research
it was found that 64% of deep-sea child workers and 5% of fish-sorting child
workers did not complete the required schooling at all.
The Ministerial Order No. 10 (1998) in accordance with item 4 of Labor
Protection Act (1998) prohibits employment of a child under 16 for marine
work; provided that the child is over 15 and his parent or guardian is also
working on the same boat, or that his parent or guardian has given a written
consent, employment is allowed.
It should be noted that violation of labor law is pervasive in fishing
business. Almost half of the deep-sea fishing child laborers were Cambodians
or Burmese. Most of them were not registered labor.
As mentioned above, 39% of fish-sorting child workers were under 15
years of age. These fish-sorters were supplied by labor agents. Because the
owners of fishing business did not treat these fish-sorters as their permanent
employees, they did not feel obliged to comply with labor law.

3. Working and Living Conditions

Deep-sea fishing child laborers worked at night while fish-sorting child
laborers had to work both day and night. Usually fish-sorters started work
after midnight because fishing boats came ashore at midnight. This practice is
against Labor Protection Act (1998), Article 47, which prohibits children under
18 to work from 10.00 p.m. to 6.00 a.m. By Article 46, it is required that child
 12
workers be entitled to 1-hour break after having worked for 4 hours. In
reality, these children are not entitled to any rest.
Besides having to work at night, fish-sorters had to endure the horrid
smell of the fish. Having no alternative, they had to endure all work conditions
including health hazards. Their working conditions do not provide the
stimulation for proper physical and mental development. These children are
deprived of the simple joys of childhood, relegated instead to a life of
drudgery.

4. Earnings and Welfare

Deep-sea fishing laborers and fish-sorting laborers earned
approximately 1,000-2,000 baht a month. While fishing laborers were
provided with 3 free meals a day on board, fish-sorters had to buy their own
meals, spend 15-20 baht a day for commuting, and 2 baht for each time they
used the restroom. Thus, fishing laborers had more savings than fish-sorters.
In addition, fishing laborers would receive a nice sum of money after working
with their employers for a year. Fish-sorters, however, were allowed to take
home 1-3 kilograms of fish each time they came to work. The fish would be
sold by some to people in their villages.
Obviously, these child laborers earned very little but had to risk their
lives working in the sea, toiling the whole night, or being in health-threatening
environments, especially among horrid and decayed marine animals.

5. Health Care
It was found that none of the deep-sea fishing laborers were ill in the
previous year. A few of them had accidents while working. Some were
apparently drunk and were smokers. Drinking may induce these young
workers to visit brothels where they would risk their lives getting AIDS or other
sexually transmitted diseases, and smoking could easily lead them to drug
addiction.
Some fish-sorting laborers suffered from headaches after working for
long hours amid the stench of fish. Some workers developed ulcer. Water
seeping through torn rubber gloves and boots bit the workers’ hands and feet
and made them rot.
Employers often provided household remedies for minor illness
treatment. If illness was severe, deep-sea fishing workers would be rushed to
hospital. In contrast, fish-sorting workers received no welfare from their
employers. They had to take care of their own health and medical bills.
However, no life or accident insurance was provided for these two groups of
labor.

6. Opinions about Child Employment

Most employers claimed that they preferred adult labor because adults
were more efficient than children. Besides, they did not have to deal with
police officers and labor authorities if they did not hire child labor.
Adult workers sometimes brought along their children or relatives to
work on fishing boats and employers unwillingly had to hire them. Fish-
sorting labor, on the other hand, was supplied by agents living in the village.
Usually, acquaintances of the agents were recruited. Unaware of Labor
Protection Law, these agents also supplied child labor. Because employers and
employees were not legally bound, employers tended to ignore or overlook
Labor Protection Law.

III. Conclusions and Recommendations

1. Suggestions for entrepreneurs

 13
Owners of fish-sorting business and fishing boats, as well as those in
the Pattani Fishery Association should be familiar with children’s rights and
Labor Protection Act (1998), and should:
1.1 Employ only children over 15 and those finishing compulsory
education
1.2Not assign children to work from midnight to six a.m. After 4
consecutive hours, children should have one hour break.
1.3Legally register their laborers so that they would be able to get
access to social welfare provided by the State.
1.4Provide healthy and safe work environment: The harbor compound
should be clean, smell-free and not slippery.
1.5Provide conveniences for laborers: accommodations while waiting for
the boats to harbor, restrooms for workers, and first-aids kits for
workers at the harbor
.
2. Suggestions for government and private sector agencies
Government agencies such as Provincial Office of Labor, Office of Public
Health, Police Station, Office of Non-formal Education, and other NGOs should:
2.1Encourage and supervise fishery entrepreneurs to strictly comply
with Labor Protection and Social Security Laws.
2.2 Organize training on work hazards prevention, health care, dangers
and effects of drugs, and prevention of AIDS and other sexually
transmitted diseases for child workers.
2.3Provide non-formal education, occupational training and occupational
skills development for child laborers as well as Thai language
teaching for foreign laborers.
2.4Organize forums for owners of fishing boats and fish-sorting
business, representatives of fishery association to discuss their
problems and solutions.
2.5Set-up a center for children along the port where children can go
during breaks at night, get access to materials informing them on
their rights, and as center for the delivery of services indicated
above
 14

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