Comparing anti-forced labor strategies: Lessons from Thailand and Brazil’s enforcement and legislative approaches

Abstract

This study examines ways in which Thailand and Brazil have fought against forced labor and how their campaigns are doing in stopping the virus of human trafficking and exploitation of people in job markets. It is on this basis that the current research investigates what those most relevant strategies are and evaluates their effectiveness, focusing on Thailand's reliance on a legislative framework, versus Brazil's creative enforcement mechanisms, such as the "Dirty List." Through a detailed analysis, this study finds that Thailand has firmed up labor protections through its legislative efforts, while there are still challenges with regard to its enforcement. Labeling employers who use forced labor as the "Dirty List" in Brazil helped many times reduce the number of cases and penalize those who broke the law. It has achieved its objectives whereas, such as both countries' improvements on record, the use of laws, and making employers publicly accountable can be a guide for other countries wanting to get rid of forced labor. This means that the present study requires an integrated approach combining prevention with punishment. These are important facts that policymakers, workers' rights advocates, and international organizations might consider when approaching forced labor in any part of the world.