Workers at all factories included in the study report a variety of unlawful deductions
from their salaries. Wage manipulation, withholding of money and economic reasons
are all medium indicators of trafficking of adults for labour exploitation, according
to the ILO.
In many cases the migrant workers do not understand the deductions. These conditions
put them in a serious financial situation with great difficulties to earn enough
money to survive. It also deepens their state of debt bondage.
For instance, workers at the Centaco/Sky Food factory reported ongoing deductions
for work permits or renewal of passports that continued over a number of months
and added up to significant amounts of money, often THB 2 000-2 500 per two week
period.
- After deductions for documents and renewal processes from my 15 day salary, I have
nothing left. How can I eat and survive? Said one Burmese man working for Centaco/
Sky Food