Thailand-Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand-Myanmar Border Areas Trafficking in Children into the Worst Forms of Child Labour: A Rapid Assessment

Thailand-Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand-Myanmar Border Areas Trafficking in Children into the Worst Forms of Child Labour: A Rapid Assessment

Thailand-Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand-Myanmar Border Areas Trafficking in Children into the Worst Forms of Child Labour: A Rapid Assessment

The assessment gives background information based on literature regarding child labor in Thailand, looking at decreasing numbers of ethnic Thai child workers, minors from Lao PDR working in Thailand, minors from Myanmar working in Thailand, sectors of child labor and foreign and ethnic minority child workers. A significant review of the assessment’s methodology is given. Findings for pre-departure are detailed on origins of trafficking (financial motivation, lack of job opportunities and education, parent’s role, oppressed communities and personal/community problems), risk groups (hill tribes from Thailand, refugees and displaced persons, stateless persons, Laotians and minors from Myanmar) and transportation into Thailand (information, organizers of transportation, means of transport, entry into Thailand, Special Border Zones and immigration policies). Findings are then given on recruitment into the worst forms of child labor (immediate/delayed entry, profit made from recruitment, awareness and deception, networking and danger of trafficking, ethnic minorities and gender), conditions of child labor (factories, the sex industry, geographical border areas, slavery, prostitution and pornography, physical and psychological abuse, various forms of poor working conditions, payment and minors’ perspectives) and prospects after trafficking into the worst forms of child labor.