All publications below are available in PDF format for free download. All material remains Copyright ILO. Other unpublished ILO Mekong project-supported research and working papers are also available (click here).

"The Mekong Challenge - Working Day and Night: the plight of migrant child workers in Mae Sot, Thailand" A bilingual (Thai-English) report on the findings of a survey of more than 300 Burmese children working in factories on the Thai side of the border reveals a situation of serious labour exploitation, in many cases considered to be worst forms of child labour. More than 80% of the children (all below 18) were working day and night (11 to 12 hours per day - 7 days a week) - often at wages far below the minimum required by law. See the full report here and its recommendations in English or Thai . Alternatively see this 5-page abridged summary

"The Mekong Challenge - Underpaid, Overworked and Overlooked: The realities of young migrant workers in Thailand" - This in-depth bi-lingual report by the ILO and Mahidol University's Institute for Population and Social Research – believed the first of its kind in Thailand – has uncovered significant human rights violations of young migrant workers ranging from physical assault, forced labour, a denial of freedom of movement, children in hazardous work – definable as worst forms of child labour – and routine psychological and verbal abuse. In some cases the labour exploitation is tantamount to that found in situations of human trafficking. Often out of the sight of both the authorities and most members of the Thai public, 82% of migrant domestic workers and 45% of young migrants toiling on fishing boats said they were required to work more than 12 hours per day, often seven days per week, according to the study. A must-read for Governments, Workers' and Employers' Organizations - as well as anti-trafficking practitioners worldwide. Free Download: English Volume 1 or Thai Volume 1 - ( Volume 2 available for download sector by sector analysis here.)

"The Mekong Challenge - Cambodia’s ‘Beer Promotion Girls’ – their recruitment, working conditions and vulnerabilities" takes one of the first in-depth looks at both the personal and working lives of these young women who are, essentially, walking advertisements for competing beer companies. Working late into the night at entertainment venues, with male clients often intoxicated and sometimes abusive, the work can be both profitable and hazardous. More than 1 in 4 of the estimated 1,550 beer promotion girls were interviewed and a number of their employers. The survey found that nearly 2 of every 3 respondents had applied for the jobs on their own, often at the encouragement of family and friends; While some said they would sometimes go out on dates with customers, only a small minority admitted to sexual relations with them, suggesting that – contrary to local popular belief – the young women were not engaging in prostitution as a matter of course; Still, some suffered stigmatization and harassment from customers and other members of the community because of the supposed link between beer promotion and sex.. Download.

"The Mekong Challenge - Cambodia’s Hotel and Guesthouse Workers – their recruitment, working conditions and vulnerabilities", uses the same approach as that of ‘Beer Promotion Girls’ and takes an in-depth look at both the personal and working lives of the young women working in Cambodia’s growing tourism sector. The survey found that the sector has a relatively well educated workforce. But without improved labour inspection of workplaces, the potential for labour exploitation grows as the industry expands. The founding of unions would help ensure that the vulnerabilities of young employees are taken into account and steps taken to avoid abuses. Download.

"The Mekong Challenge - Destination Thailand: A cross-border labour migration survey in Banteay Meanchey Province, Cambodia", reports on the result of random-sampling of 239 households, including 80 returning labourers, 163 children (age 10-17) and 83 young adults (aged 18-25) from 4 target districts in this north-western border province with Thailand. The survey found: A 9-fold increase in the number of school drop-outs during the preceding 5 years; Contact lost with migrating family members – and no remittances received; A dependence on agents/brokers to find cross-border work and increased vulnerability to the risks of trafficking due to lack of public information for potential migrants in the province. Download.

"Tools for Prevention - Participatory Monitoring: Guidelines for practitioners in the fight against human trafficking" - This publication, the first in our 'Tools for Prevention' series, offers advice on particpatory monitoring with an emphasis on inclusive monitoring for impact rather than focusing on the activities themselves. Free download in Web PDF (3mg) Download for free or email us for the free Thai hardcopy. Please note, the official English publication is a Web PDF publication only and is not available in hardcopy. Download (Eng) Now also available in Thai!

"First Hand Knowledge - Voices Across the Mekong: Community action against trafficking of children and women: This is the first in a new series of 'Good Practice' publications issued by the ILO Mekong Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women. Written with Governments, NGOs and other anti-trafficking practitioners in mind, the book focuses on the project's successes so far in encouraging direct community-level particpation in finding sustainable ways to prevent children and young women from victimization. Download.

“Employment and Protection of Migrant Workers in Thailand: National Laws Practices versus International Labour Standards?” by Thai university professor and international law expert, Vitit Muntarbhorn, looks at the application of labour standards as they relate to migrant workers in Thailand. Professor Vitit concludes with a series of 12 recommendations for both government and non-government sectors. This publication also contains copies of all six sub-regional, bilateral, MOUs on counter trafficking and employment cooperation. This is an English/Thai bilingual publication. Download. (563k)

“The Mekong Challenge - Human Trafficking: Redefining Demand” is the second publication in The Mekong Challenge series and outlines preliminary research and guidelines into the definition of employer ‘demand’ for victims of trafficking. This abridged version by researcher Elaine Pearson outlines the need for a fresh approach to research (now underway) into the destination factors in the trafficking of children and young women in the Mekong sub-region, with Thailand as the main destination country. The new research is being conducted by Mahidol University and will be completed and published in late 2006. English. Download (406k)

“The Mekong Challenge - Analysis Report of the Baseline Survey for the TICW Project Phase II in Yunnan Province,” is the third publication in the Mekong Challenge series. Originally published in Chinese by the IPEC Task Team of the Yunnan Provincial Statistics Bureau, this publication documents the experiences of returning migrants and their families in Yunnan Province of China. It connects the vulnerability of migrants, especially children and women, to the risk of human trafficking by interpreting the results of more than 7,000 respondents in both sending and receiving communities in Yunnan Province. It is accompanied by a separate video (DVD) “Yunnan, China: The Link Between Migration and Trafficking (downloadable here)” and a CD-Rom version of the publication. Download publication . (1,000k)

"Making History: People, Process and Participation" - The outcome of the Mekong Children's Forum on Human Trafficking (a joint-initiative with Save the Children UK) A full report on the process and outcome of the Mekong Children's Forum on Human Trafficking and a separate report back to the young delegates from five countries who took part. The children held a dialogue with senior Government officials from their countries at a gathering in Bangkok. They presented 43 separate Recommendations for Action to combat human trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region. "Making History: People, Process and Particpation" A very useful tool for Governments, NGOs and other social agencies planning to organize an event involving child participation and consultation. Read and learn about ways to fight human trafficking directly from young people on the front line. Download.

From Phase I (2000 - 2003) and earlier:

• A Process-based Approach to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women Sharing Preliminary Experiences of an ILO-project in the Mekong Sub-region
  An ILO Mekong Subregional Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women working paper by Hans van de Glind
  July 2001, Bangkok, Thailand
  Document
  Download as PDF Document (127 KB)
  
  
• Labour Migration and Trafficking Within the Greater Mekong Subregion Proceedings of Mekong subregional experts meeting and exploratory policy paper (TIA-1)
  ILO Mekong Subregional Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women
  December 2001, Bangkok, Thailand
  Document
  Download as PDF Document (294 KB)

• Non-Formal Education and Rural Skills Training: Tools to combat the worst forms child labour and trafficking (TIA-2). May 2002, Bangkok, Thailand Download as PDF Document

• Micro-Finance Interventions: Tools to combat the worst forms child labour and trafficking (TIA-3) June 2002. Bangkok Thailand Download as PDF Document
  
  
• Yunnan Province of China Situation of Trafficking in Children and Women: A Rapid Assessment
  Document
  Download as PDF Document (366 KB)
  
  
• Viet Nam Children in Prostitution in Hanoi, Hai Phong, Ho Chi Minh City and Can Tho:
  Rapid Assessment
  ILO/IPEC Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women, working paper by Le Bach Duong, July 2002
  Document
  Download as PDF Document (484 KB) Re-uploaded Nov 2006 *
  
  
• Trafficking in Children into the Worst Forms of Child Labour in Thailand Rapid Assessment Findings from Four Research Sites along the Thailand-Lao PDR and Thailand-Myanmar Border Areas
  An ILO-IPEC Southeast Asia working paper by Christina Wille, The Asian Research Centre for Migration, Institute of Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, October 2000
  Document
  Download as PDF Document (1,586 KB) Re-uploaded Nov 2006 *
  
  
• Trafficking in Children in Asia A regional overview
  An ILO-IPEC Southeast Asia working paper by Karen C. Tumlin, Researcher Institute for Asian Studies, Chulalongkorn University, February 2000
  Document
  Download as PDF Document (138 KB)
  
  
• Combating Trafficking in Children for Labour Exploitation in the Mekong Sub-Region A proposed framework for ILO-IPEC Action and Proceedings of a Mekong Sub-Regional Consultation
  An ILO-IPEC South-east Asia working paper, by Hans van de Glind and Claudia Coenjaerts, October 1998, Bangkok, Thailand
  Document
  Download as PDF Document (209 KB)
  
  
• Children in Prostitution, Pornography and Illicit Activities in Thailand Magnitude of problems and remedies
  An ILO-IPEC Southeast Asia working paper by Herve Berger & Hans van de Glind
  August 1999, Bangkok, Thailand
  Document
  Download as PDF Document (151 KB)
  
  
• Lao PDR Situation Analysis Report January 2003
  Document
  Download as PDF Document (462 KB)