Legal Measures for the Prevention and Suppression of Corruption by Government Officials Related to Individual Brokers and Myanmar Labourers in Seafood Processing Industry

Abstract

Despite being ranked top for seafood product exports globally, Thailand consistently experiences labour shortages in the seafood processing industry. As a result, migrant workers from Myanmar are needed to fill these vacancies and continuously drive the manufacturing sector within the industry. However, the management of migrant workers is accompanied by certain limitations and impacts. The research findings show that push and pull factors create demand for migrant workers to work in the fishery processing industry; however, with some limitations, there are increasing numbers of broker networks, with the number rising in relation to the need for labourers to fill the vacancies. The nature of the broker network process consists of many related parties working together, both from Myanmar and Thailand. These aid Myanmar workers in various aspects by requesting or receiving a relatively high wage, for facilitating travel, documentation, and easing any issues as regards resettlement. Subsequently, corruption arises among some government officials through the forms of requesting or accepting bribes in order to refrain from implementing or expediting formal action. This affects Myanmar workers who are exploited and taken advantage of illegally. In addition, it also has impact upon Thai society and economy. Even though every related sector and party is attempting to solve the problem, it persists through factors that help to perpetuate the networks of brokerage and corruption that exist among some government officials. These include the acceptance of corruption, restrictions on Myanmar migrant workers, and the vested interests of some government officials. The authors suggest two solutions: the cooperation of citizens as whistleblowers should be integrated with clear incentive measures, and there should be revision of the compensation of government officials to reduce the risk of corruption and establish working groups in independent organizations to specifically solve any relevant problems. Moreover, a review of the procedures involved in issuing a border pass should be strictly performed and improved. The procedures for document processing should be conducted in a more convenient and quicker manner so as to cut out the brokerage networks that are linked to government officials. For the suppression of legal measures, legal penalties should be reviewed for Myanmar migrant workers and employers to be appropriate to the social and economic context. Severe penalties should be imposed on government officials as a deterrent, thereby reducing the level of corruption among government officers.