based on a three-tier system. The Thai government continues to insist that they are
working diligently to stop human trafficking, though little improvement has been
made over the years. After being warned by the US Department of State that not
enough was being done to combat human trafficking in the country, the 2015 TIP
Report downgraded Thailand to Tier 3, stating that the Thai government“does not
fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking, and is
not making significant efforts to do so.”By placing countries on Tier 3, its lowest
possible ranking, countries can face many consequences under US law, including
non-trade-related sanctions, restrictions on US foreign assistance and disqualifica-
tions to globalfinancial institutions such as the World Bank.
Although the TIP Report is widely used by international organizations, foreign
governments, and non-governmental organizations to compare anti-trafficking
efforts of all countries and identify places where help is most needed, critics argue
that it is merely a tool to publicly shame countries. After the 2015 TIP report was
released, Bangkok protested publicly to Washington, requesting a change in
ranking (Chuensuksawadi 2015 ).
Despite not demonstrating progress in combatting trafficking, Thailand was
surprisingly upgraded to the level 2 watch list in the 2016 TIP Report, marking a
rare boost for USThai relations (Bangkok Post 2016b). However, numerous
investigations and reports, many led by The Guardian (Hodal and Kelly 2016 ), have
found that all the trafficking and corruption issues of previous years still pervade
Thailand’s fishing industry. International rights groups argue that the US
Government’s choice to remove Thailand from the list of worst human trafficking
offenders is merely politically motivated for its own strategic interests (EJF 2016 ).
In the report, reasons for improvement include claims that more cases are being
investigated, more suspects are being investigated and corrupt officials will now
face disciplinary action and life imprisonment. However, Phil Robertson, Deputy
Director of the Asia Division of the Human Rights Watch said that“...leaders in
Bangkok should recognize that the international community is not yet convinced of
Thailand’s commitment to fully implement anti-trafficking measures, or reduce the
vulnerability of migrants to abuse that lies at the heart of Thailand’s trafficking
problem”(Bangkok Post2016a).
8.7 How to End Corruption in Thailand?......................
Thailand has passed many anti-trafficking laws in the past, though weak institu-
tional structures and corruption of government and law enforcement officials are
rampant, including instances of police involved in the operations. Thailand ranks
102nd (among 175 countries) on the International Corruption Perception Index
( 2013 ). Grossman ( 2015 : 154–157) calls it“a deep-rooted menace in Thai society.”
An astonishing 71% of the police, 68% of the political parties, and 58% of public
officials/civil servants are seen as corrupt by the Thai public (Transparency
International Survey 2013 ). Corrupt officials and policemen are known at times to
122 8 Human Trafficking in Thailand: A Culture of Corruption