Thai fishing reforms netting some changes

Some abuse remains:Migrant workers unloading frozen fish from a boat at a fish market in Samut Sakhon province, west of Bangkok, in this file picture. — AP

BANGKOK: Thailand’s fishing and seafood industry has made some improvement in working conditions, including less physical violence, but problems such as unfair pay and deception in contracting persist, a survey conducted by the UN’s International Labour Organi­sation found.

The European Union in 2015 gave Thailand a “yellow card” on its fishing exports, warning that it could face a ban on EU sales if it didn’t reform the industry. Thailand’s military government responded by introducing new regulations and setting up a command centre to fight illegal fishing.