IOM moderates a panel discussion on enhancing ethical recruitment and employment standards in Thailand's sugarcane sector. Photo: 2024

Bangkok, 7 August 2024 – The International Organization for Migration (IOM) in collaboration with the Office of the Cane and Sugar Board (OCSB) under the Ministry of Industry, and Bonsucro convened public and private sector representatives for a roundtable discussion on enhancing ethical recruitment and employment in Thailand’s sugarcane sector. 

The sugarcane industry stands as a cornerstone of Thailand's agricultural sector, making significant contributions to both the country’s and global economy. Thailand ranks among the world's top sugar producers, contributing 4.2 percent of global production in 2021. According to the Bank of Thailand, the sugarcane industry supported the livelihoods of over 500,000 households and accounted for 21 percent of the country's agricultural Gross Domestic Product in 2017. 

The demand for labour, driven by a combination of geographic, political, economic, and cultural factors, positions Thailand as a key destination country for migrant workers from neighbouring countries. Thailand hosts around three million registered migrant workers, 10 percent of whom are employed in agriculture, including the sugarcane industry. Estimates suggest an additional two million undocumented migrants may be working in the country, some of them in the sugarcane sector. 

“The sector faces significant challenges, particularly regarding the working conditions of migrant workers, who are crucial to sustaining its productivity. These challenges are further exacerbated by climate change, limited labour rights protections, and decent work deficits due to the informal nature of their employment,” highlighted Maximilian Pottler, Head of Labour Mobility and Social Inclusion Unit at IOM Thailand.

The roundtable brought together over 60 participants, including representatives from the government, private sector, cane and sugar associations, and civil society organizations, to exchange best practices on recruitment and employment of migrant workers. It also served as a platform for meaningful dialogue to co-create actionable recommendations to enhance legal protection and share corporate practices, contributing to a more ethical and sustainable sugarcane industry in Thailand. 

At the core of this roundtable were the panel discussions that highlighted the challenges faced by migrant workers throughout the sugarcane supply chain, from cultivating and harvesting on farms to processing cane at sugar factories. These challenges include the complexity of the recruitment system, excessive recruitment fees and related costs in countries of origin, and limited awareness among migrant workers about their rights and entitlements, which is compounded by language barriers to accessing essential services. Additionally, employers have limited access to integrated information about laws and policies and little to no incentive to go beyond national laws to meet international standards.

Yet, many improvements to ensure decent work among workers were also shared by the Thai Sugarcane Farmers Federation, including such as many migrant workers in Sa Kaeo now being paid above the minimum requirements, along with providing access to healthcare and essential facilities.

The roundtable also featured a recent update from the Informal Labour Protection Division, Department of Labour Protection and Welfare, Ministry of Labour, to provide insights into the consideration of extending protection coverage to seasonal agriculture workers, including sugarcane. These considerations encompass topics such as working hours and minimum wages. 

At the conclusion of the roundtable, several key recommendations were identified to address existing challenges and improve the recruitment and employment practices for migrant workers in the sugarcane sector. These recommendations include revising legislation to better align with international standards, simplifying the recruitment process, raising awareness about Social Security benefits, and providing skill development to migrant workers, particularly in the areas of innovation and machinery, to adapt to a changing climate.  

The results from the roundtable discussion will contribute to the development of a policy paper proposing recommendations for government and private sectors to ensure more inclusive protection for all workers, including migrants, in the sugarcane sector.  

The roundtable is part of the ‘Using Digital Tools and Multi-Stakeholder Engagement to Improve Human Rights Due Diligence’ project funded by Bonsucro Impact Fund. The Bonsucro Impact Fund invests in impact projects that address critical sustainability challenges in the sugarcane sector. This project culminates a series of activities, including tool development, worker engagement, and the strengthening migrant-centred human rights due diligence in Thailand’s sugarcane sector. 

***

For more information, please contact Khai Yau Chua, Partnerships and Programme Coordinator (Migration, Business and Human Rights) at kchua@iom.int and Boonsita Ravisopitying, Project Assistant (Migration, Business and Human Rights) at bravisopityi@iom.int.