“Thailand to adopt fines, GPS to 'eradicate slave trade'”, 12 January 2015

Thailand is deploying GPS on fishing boats, adopting steep fines and a budget to hire 700 anti-corruption staff in an effort to combat human trafficking ahead of a U.S. deadline to show improvement, authorities said…A new law passed…to combat "illegal, unregistered and unreported fishing" would fine abuses by up to 30 million baht ($910,000)…As part of the law, satellite-based monitoring systems would be required for large fishing ships, which have 60 days to install the devices…At the end of 2014, the government also increased the minimum age for workers on fishing vessels to 18 years from 15, required 10 hours of rest per working day, and a minimum of 30 days leave per year…Migrant rights advocates said the government's latest efforts were inadequate."This is a tally sheet exercise, with the Thai side trying to figure how many cases and how many officials the U.S. government wants prosecuted in order to give an upgrade," said Phil Robertson, deputy director of Human Rights Watch's Asia division…