On January 21, 2025, the International Justice Mission (IJM) presented a research study funded by the Walmart Foundation titled
“Collaborative Efforts to End Forced Labor: A Study on the Experiences of Migrant Workers and the Justice System’s Response to Cross-Border Labor Trafficking in Thailand.”

Mr. Anucha Techanitisawat, President of the Association, and Mr. Viboon Suphakkapongkul, Vice President, attended the presentation as representatives of the Association. The event was held at Asawin Grand Convention Hotel and was chaired by Mr. Pichet Thongpan, Inspector General of the Ministry of Labor.

The research comprises two main studies:

1. A Study on the Safety, Health, and Risk of Exploitation of Migrant Workers from Myanmar and Cambodia in Thailand (2022)
   Conducted by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) at the University of Chicago, this study examined the risks of human trafficking and various forms of exploitation among migrant workers, as well as their access to justice as individuals.

2. A Study on the Progress, Implementation, and Effectiveness of the Justice System’s Response to Cross-Border Labor Trafficking in Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar (2022)
   Conducted by the Research and Communications Group (RCG), this study assessed the effectiveness of Thailand’s justice system in addressing forced labor and cross-border labor trafficking.

IJM collaborated with research agencies to study the efficiency of the justice system and the prevalence of forced labor in various sectors such as the fishing industry, service sector, construction, and manufacturing. The following recommendations were proposed for the Thai government and business sector operating within and in collaboration with these countries. IJM encourages multi-stakeholder cooperation to achieve systemic change that leads to sustainability and reduced risk.

For the Government:

1. Eliminate legal and procedural barriers in the Thai justice system.

2. Impose legal obligations on labor recruiters and employers to ensure worker safety and well-being.

3. Improve and revise bilateral labor agreements between Thailand and neighboring countries to enhance migrant worker protection.

4. Strengthen efforts to officially identify cases of forced labor and labor trafficking.

For the Business Sector:

1. Implement an Accountable Recruitment System that ensures responsibility throughout the recruitment process.

2. Provide remediation at every stage — from recruitment, during employment, to post-employment.

3. Exert influence on governments to strengthen and enforce relevant labor laws and regulations.

4. Integrate workers’ voices and experiences into the design of labor protection initiatives.

About IJM:

The International Justice Mission (IJM) is a global justice organization operating in the Asia-Pacific region since 2000. It aims to combat human trafficking and forced labor by reducing their prevalence in global supply chains and migration routes. IJM works closely with governments through field offices in Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, Malaysia, and Indonesia to strengthen labor protections and prevent forced labor and human trafficking throughout the region.