Songkhla -- “We did not know what to do when we need a consult,” Mr. Saman, one of many migrant workers of fishing boat in Songkhla said.  But Mr.Saman is one of the workers whose problem was solved by Fishermen's Life Enhancement Center (FLEC).

Since the establishment in May 2016, FLEC has reached out and provided consultants to thousands of both local and migrant workers in fishery industry in the province, helping them to learn how to protect their rights.

The center was set up under the five-year plan (2016 - 2020) by concerned government agencies, private sector and NGOs, including the Fish Marketing Organization; Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives; Department of Labour Protection and Welfare; Family Planning Association of Thailand; Stella Maris Centre Songkhla and Charoen Pokphand Foods, to tackle an abuse of human rights in fishery industry and improve wellbeing of those who work in the seafood industry.

Mr. Preecha Jeasa, who works at the Songkhla Provincial Office of Labour Protection and Welfare, said FLEC is established in an attempt to eradicated forced labour from Thai seafood industry. The center provides consultancy service to those workers and encourage them to learn about their rights under Thailand’s labour laws as well as work safety and healthcare. Furthermore, they are able to report their complaints to the center to help coordinate with concerned agencies on behalf of them. 

“FLEC’s founding agencies have been working together to continuously improves the fishermen’s life through many initiated activities. We have been working with Labour Protection and Welfare Department to help workers aware of their own rights,” Mr. Preecha pointed, adding that the center’s service also extends assistance to members of the workers’ families.

Mr. Saman said the center helps his family in many ways such as providing them an access to basic medication and education. It also provides interesting courses for labour such as health education, first aid treatment, labour rights and etc. 

“Workers can leave their children at the center, where they can learn, during the working day,” he said.  Mr. Saman’s son is five years old also enjoys activities in the center’s pre-school programme before joining public school in Songkhla.

“I used to bring my son to work as afraid of he may accidentally fall into the sea,” Mr. Saman added “At the center, there are teachers who can watch over him while I am at work,”

FLEC runs a successful pre-school program for the children of migrant workers. 59 of them joined the programme in 2017. Six of them passed entry tests and currently study at a municipal school in Songkhla for academic year 2018.

Ms. Nattaya Petcharat, Project Coordinator at Stella Maris Songkla Center and FLEC’s committee, said the center have received overwhelming positive feedback from the workers and fishermen. The number of people who access to FLEC’s service have been growing constantly.

The amount of users raised from 2,030 users in 2016 to 3,483 in 2017. In the first of 2018, there was already 2,245 people who use FLEC’s service.

“During the first 6 months of this year, the center’s activities were emphasized on migrant children pre-education and other basic services and consultant. The centr plans to promote labour rights, occupational health and safety as its main task for the second half of 2018,” Ms. Nattaya noted.