Thai Schools for Migrants Aim to Prevent Child Labor
December 21, 2012
Thailand's seafood industry is expressing concern about child labor practices that, if not improved, could see exports to the United States restricted. The Thai government established schools for children of migrant laborers, most from Burma, to provide an alternative to child labor. But too many children are still working.
9-year-old Nu Nu Wai would like to go to school full time and become a painter.
But, as a child of migrant workers from Burma her parents cannot make enough money so she only attends 10 days a month.
She spends the rest of her time peeling shrimp in a factory that employs five other children.
Her teacher, Than Than Win says she works there with her parents up to 13 hours per day.
"Parents who have financial problems cannot send their children to school regularly. Sometimes, they ask their children to work and help in their work," she said.
Billions in exports
Samutsakhon is Thailand's seafood processing heartland and about a third of exports, worth over a billion dollars per year, go to the United States.
But a review next year of its record on trafficking in persons, including forced and child labor, could result in restrictions.
Suwatanachai Visetcharoen is manager of Talay Thai, Thailand's largest seafood wholesaler.
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