Your Rights in Thailand - ITF Fisheries

Labour rights in Thailand

Your captain cannot

Captains cannot hold your identity documents, bank book, or ATM card in their possession without your permission.
Captains and owners must provide adequate food, medicine and basic first aid, clean water and hours of rest.
Captains and owners must pay you monthly, and cannot deduct anything from your wages without your permission.
Captains and owners must provide you with a written contract in your own language before you sign it.
Captains and owners must provide a safe workplace, personal safety equipment and train all fishers to safety operate machinery and equipment.

How you should be paid

Khmer

Burmese

Thai

Your rights under Thai law

Opportunity to read employment contract prior to signing: Ministry of Labour fisheries employment contract clause: “Both parties have thoroughly read and understood the contents of this contract.”
Possess a duplicate copy of employment contract: Section 6, Ministerial Regulation on Protection of Workers in Marine Fisheries, B.E. 2557 (2014)
Be paid at least once per month: Section 10, Ministerial Regulation on Protection of Workers in Marine Fisheries, B.E. 2557 (2014)
No deductions from earnings: Section 76, Labour Protection Act, B.E. 2541 (1998)
At least 10 hours rest in a 24-hour period at sea: Section 5, Ministerial Regulation on Protection of Workers in Marine Fisheries, B.E. 2557 (2014)
At least one uninterrupted rest period of a minimum of six hours in length in a 24-hour period at sea: Section 1, Ministry of Labour Guidelines on Rest Hours Management for Workers in Marine Fisheries, December 2014
Provision of sufficient food adequate for a nutritionally-balanced diet: Section 6, Ministerial Regulation on Safety, Health and Welfare Systems in Marine Work, B.E. 2559 (2016)
Provision of medicines and basic first aid supplies: Section 9, Ministerial Regulation on Safety, Health and Welfare Systems in Marine Work, B.E. 2559 (2016)
Trained in the safe operation of fishing equipment prior to work: Sections 3, Ministerial Regulation on Safety, Health and Welfare Systems in Marine Work, B.E. 2559 (2016)
Trained in the use of personal safety equipment: Section 3, Ministerial Regulation on Safety, Health and Welfare Systems in Marine Work, B.E. 2559 (2016)
Paid sick leave: Section 13, Ministerial Regulation on Protection of Workers in Marine Fisheries, B.E. 2557 (2014)
Immediate return to shore in event of serious illness or injury at sea: Section 10, Ministerial Regulation on Safety, Health and Welfare Systems in Marine Work, B.E. 2559 (2016)
No retention of personal identity documents: Section 131, Royal Decree on Management of Foreign Workers, B.E. 2560 (2017)