The Thai Government suspends victim screenings for trafficked workers trapped in Myanmar

The Thai Government has halted automatic victim screenings for people rescued from scamming centers in Myanmar, leaving trafficked workers stranded in dire conditions, according to NGOs operating in the region. Under new policy measures, the Thai Government has mandated that foreign governments, through their embassies or consulates in Thailand and neighboring countries, must negotiate and finance the repatriation of their citizens before any screenings occur. Without such agreements in place, victims remain in Myanmar, unable to access the formal identification process required for trafficking survivors.

Reports indicate that many rescued people are suffering from severe health issues, including tuberculosis, while female victims of sexual violence remain in urgent need of medical care for pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections. Instead of being transferred to Thailand for assistance, the rescued workers are now confined to makeshift camps controlled by armed militia groups.

This policy shift follows the mass release of thousands of individuals from Myanmar’s scamming compounds since mid-February. While an initial group of 260 victims, along with others from Poipet’s cyberscam centers, underwent standard identification procedures, this process has now been suspended, with the Thai Government saying it has concerns over capacity and can only handle a limited number of people per day. Observers note that while its failure to provide shelter and adequate care for all the victims who were initially released exposed it to legal risk, the new policy ensures that victims spend virtually no time in Thailand, reducing this risk significantly.

Critics further argue that the revised screening process is superficial, focusing only on basic personal details such as name, date of birth, and the route taken from the country of origin – in some cases, victims are not even questioned about the nature of their exploitation and abuse. Instead, pre-negotiated agreements between Thailand and foreign governments automatically classify them as trafficking victims without thorough individual assessments, meaning that perpetrators may avoid being brought to justice. Meanwhile, victims’ full rights are not explained to them, and they are immediately transported to their flights home.

Authorities from Thailand, Myanmar, and Cambodia are now attempting to establish trilateral standard operating procedures (SOPs) for screening individuals emerging from these compounds, which are likely to prioritize speed over rigor and lack rights-based or victim-centered practices, observers note.

Meanwhile, despite claiming self-sufficiency in handling trafficking cases, the Thai Government continues to receive generous support from local NGOs throughout the process, relying heavily on them for interpretation services, food, basic victim care, ground transportation and repatriation flights. At the same time, authorities remain skeptical of these organizations, despite their crucial role in filling gaps in support services.

The new approach has also raised concerns over inequitable treatment based on nationality. Victims from African nations – including Ethiopia, Uganda, Rwanda, and Burundi – are particularly vulnerable, as their governments often lack the financial resources to arrange repatriation flights. This is especially alarming given that Ethiopians reportedly make up a large proportion of those still trapped in Myanmar’s scam compounds.

Indonesia was among the first nations to comply with Thailand’s new requirements, securing the return of 84 of its nationals; in the past two days, India has repatriated 540 citizens, bypassing the identification process altogether and opting instead to charter direct repatriation flights; and, yesterday, Malaysia repatriated 25 citizens, who were taken by bus to the Malaysian border, according to frontline civil society groups. China, however, has taken a more punitive approach, arresting its nationals upon their return and expediting judicial proceedings, despite the likelihood that many were coerced into illegal activities under duress. Local advocacy groups have urged the implementation of a National Referral Mechanism in China to protect vulnerable victims, but current legal limitations restrict assistance primarily to women and children, according to members of Freedom Collaborative’s Trafficking for Forced Criminality Response Working Group.

Here’s a round-up of other noteworthy news and initiatives:

A new report by the Global Initiative Against Transnational Organized Crime (GI-TOC) highlights how Myanmar’s illicit economies, including drug trafficking, arms smuggling, human trafficking, and illegal resource extraction, have long fueled conflict and shaped political power. Since the 2021 coup, the deepening crime-conflict nexus has made organized crime a critical factor in the country’s future, with criminal networks influencing governance and complicating prospects for peace.

Justice and Care’s new publication, “Hidden Chains and Missing Links – Child Trafficking in Romania: A Comprehensive Study”, provides a detailed investigation of the hidden scale of child trafficking in Romania, exposing alarming gaps in prevention, awareness, and resources, and highlighting how vulnerable children can face significant risks due to poverty, family instability, unchecked social media access, and the normalization of sexual violence. The research shows the need for urgent, community-driven solutions and targeted interventions to protect Romania’s children from trafficking.

An article by the CNN Freedom Project highlights how cuts to U.S. foreign aid are undermining efforts to combat human trafficking in Southeast Asia, particularly at scam compounds in Myanmar and Cambodia. With USAID counter-trafficking programs abruptly terminated, NGOs assisting victims have been forced to shut down or scale back, leaving thousands trapped in forced labour and cyberscam factories targeting Americans.

Members from Global Learning Community (GLC) have put together a set of guidelines for faith-based anti-trafficking organizations, which recognize the unique strengths of faith-based approaches while addressing the distinct challenges that come with integrating faith into trauma-informed and survivor-centered care. “Ethical Anti-Trafficking Practices: Guiding Principles for Faith-Based Organizations” was produced with input from survivor groups and is currently available in English and Spanish, with an Indonesian translation in progress.

The latest report by the Council of Europe’s expert group on human trafficking praises Austria’s efforts to combat trafficking and support victims, but highlights ongoing challenges. While the number of identified victims has remained stable at around 120 per year, concerns include the growing role of digital technology in trafficking crimes and the need for better victim compensation.

Nearly 20,000 potential victims of modern slavery were referred to the UK’s National Referral Mechanism in 2024, a 13 per cent increase from the previous year. Greater London was the most commonly reported location for exploitation, while officials warn that the figures represent only a fraction of the true scale of modern slavery in the country.

The new CIVICUS Monitor Watchlist highlights serious concerns regarding the exercise of civic freedoms in the U.S., Democratic Republic of the Congo, Italy, Pakistan, and Serbia, drawing attention to countries in which there is a serious decline in respect for civic space. The list is based on an assessment by CIVICUS Monitor research findings, research partners, and consultations with activists on the ground, and CIVICUS is calling upon these governments to do everything in their power to end the ongoing crackdowns and ensure that perpetrators are held to account.