The human exploiters

Within a matter of weeks, the US State Department will once again be rating and ranking itself and the world on human trafficking. All eyes in Thailand will once again be on whether this so-called "gold standard" has promoted the nation from its recent position at the bottom of the barrel. The country was moved two years ago from Tier 2 to Tier 3, a list of shame that includes nations with actual slave labour like North Korea, and long-term violators without any intention to improve. This was an appropriate ranking for "the old Thailand". But the country now appears to fare much better. (Courtesy of bangkokpost.com)