Crammed quarters and filthy conditions on board fishing vessels may be the norm in the Thai fishing industry but one fishing operator in Samut Prakan is building four ships equipped with air-conditioned quarters and flush toilets for his crew.
Sap Charoen Samut owner Phuwanat Chaocharoenphat shows Labour Ministry adviser Noppadon Kannika his newly built fishing vessel which offers better facilities for crew members. Somchai Poomlard
Phuwanat Chaocharoenphat, owner of Sap Charoen Samut Co, believes investing in the crew will yield dividends for his company and the industry as a whole if they follow suit.
"We want our fishing crews to feel more comfortable at work," said Mr Phuwanat."They work for us, so we must take care of them."
He is putting his money where his mouth is and is building four new steel fishing vessels, each costing 25 million baht, to add to his fishing fleet that will boast 11 ships in total.
Two of the new boats have been built and each has air-conditioned sleeping quarters for 36 crew, a first-aid room, a galley, seawater desalination equipment and flush toilets.
"Previously if you wanted to go to the toilet, what you did was grab a cable tightly and do it in the sea," one shipwright who identified himself only as It, said.
Mr Phuwanat said he agreed with the government's push to make Thai fisheries meet international standards.
He sought out to improve crews' working conditions when he quit university to help in his father's fishing business some 20 years ago, he said.
But this sparked a "row with my dad" over increasing expenses, especially those spent on food for crew, he said.
He stuck to his guns, however. Eventually his father began to see the benefits of his efforts — a healthier business with a good employer-worker relationship — and he and his siblings gained their father's full trust after that.
He said good working conditions on board boats are important because catching fish sometimes requires long trips. If morale sinks, so does the fishing voyage.
Mr Phuwanat's efforts to ensure better working conditions including decent meals and wages sets him apart from many fishing operators forcing both Thai and immigrant labourers to work like slaves.
Labour officials who recently inspected his boats praised them as an example for the Thai fishing industry to follow.
What they saw raised their hopes that the country can avoid negative impacts resulting from its human trafficking and labour abuse reputation, especially in the fishing industry.
Mr Phuwanat said others in the industry are trying to improve life for crews on their vessels as they comply with stricter rules to stamp out slavery-like conditions.
He said he has noticed changes for the better.
Two years ago he was among the first fishing operators to build boats that met internationally accepted standards.
More operators are now following suit, he said.
These improvements are among the requirements which the Labour Ministry has set to tackle human trafficking in the fishing industry.
Under the ministerial law, not only must each crew member be at least 18 years old and licensed to work but each vessel must also have desalination equipment, sleeping quarters, a galley, toilet and someone who can provide first-aid.
Aware this is a costly process, Mr Phuwanat has asked state officials to help fishing operators with financial matters, especially with loans.
Labour minister adviser, Nopphadon Kannika, said he will raise the issue with the minister.
