Migrant Labor in the Thai Fishing Industry (Part I)

Harsh life at sea

Brief Description

This series focuses on migrant workers in the Thai seafood and fishing industry. As the photographer, Mahmud Rahman, writes: “I have spent hours during the day in a fishing pier. A vessel arrives, the workers on board unloads the fish, sort the fish, clean the boat, load fresh supply of food, mend nets and the loudspeaker from the captain’s deck urges to leave for fresh catch. It is maximum productivity using undocumented laborers. I haven’t seen any worker leaving the pier for a stroll. It is a $7 billion a year industry and an average pay is below 10$/day with non-stop work.” Photographs were taken in various port locations in Thailand between 2012 and 2014.

Photographer

Mahmud Rahman lives between Dhaka and Bangkok and works as documentary photographer on social issues. His major work includes: Bangladeshi women, children in difficult circumstances, trafficking of women and children in Bangladesh, river gipsy, indigenous people. Mahmud published several books (only available in Dhaka) as the end product of his self-assigned projects.

As a visual advocacy campaigner in Bangladesh, he uses his work to raise awareness through photo exhibitions and participatory workshops with selected groups in rural and urban areas, especially targeting the youths. His blog can be found at: mahmudmaphoto.blogspot.com.

Prachap khitri khan is all about fishing and fishermen and great fish preparations offered on the promenade. it is the traditional fishing boat with colour splashed generously, of the fishing family, man and his woman, untangle the catch of the day in the morning sun. there are mechanized vessels with sailors with sculptured bodies, busy round the clock; loading and unloading fish, boulders, food, water, supplies they need for 2 week's staying at deep sea. i know nothing of their thoughts, their names and titles, as my thai vocabulary is limited to few words. is is a shame being here for 6 weeks. Prachap khiri khan, thailand mar 2012.,

it is considered as a rebellious child to thai rule and was a muslim principality which included yala ana narathiwat. portugese were here, japanese and british didn't do well at all. the rebel continues till date with insurgent groups asking for power sharing; the army is watching on foot, road-blockade and armoured vehicle on the highways; mae nam pattani river melts into the bay and hundreds of mechanised fishing boats overwhelm the traditional fishermen; the mechanised boats hire migrant sailors from myanmar and cambodia and a good number are child workers; pattani, thailand, 2013 90% muslims;

most of the seamen i asked: country? myanmar, was the answer. samut sakhon fish port; thailand, oct 2014

[Show thumbnails]