Social Problems In Thailand Essay Example

considered a social problem increase substantially.

If the condition effecting only a small segment of the population, then it is not likely to be a ocial problem, when comparing with a condition that is effecting a larger segment of the population, as well as the increasing number of people effecting by the condition. The condition that is highlighted by the mass media and the press would also likely become a social problem rather than those that didn't get attention from the press. However, the liberal press would select different problems than those conservatives.

Finally, ideology plays an important role in determining which conditions are singled out as social problems. In Thailand, there are many social problems arises in the past decades, some ttracts more attention from the press and become widely aware of, when some might not attracts as much attention and people are still not aware of it, even the condition might be more critical. Some social problems could lead to a decline in the total welfare of the country, while some might lead to a decline in the country image and reputation. One of the most concerning condition right now is the prostitution problem.

If we want to dig down to the root of this problem, we might have to date back to the time disappeared. However this new "freedom" caused many women to "voluntarily" enter rostitution to earn a living. It is interesting to note that brothels were perfectly legal under the Sexual-Related Diseases Control Act at that time. Prostitutes as well as owners of brothels were systematically taxed by the state. Now, with the new laws complied that prostitution is illegal,

some women still wants to enter into this profession because of poverty issue and also the expectation of owning luxury goods and better standard of living.

The problem today other than the spreading of diseases is that these prostitutes that are lured or forced into the profession are lacking of workers rite. That is, without workers right, it could be said that prostitution is slavery for low-income prostitutes in local brothels. Prostitutes are permitted from going outside the brothel without permission, letters to/from the family back home are opened and read by the owners. Many brothel owners also demand their employee to stop menstruation by taking all but the last five birth control pills.

Aside from pleasing customers, and obey the rules set by brothels owners, prostitutes deals with the pressure of being far away from home, health concerns including pregnancy and sometimes guilt. Regardless of the human rights issue concerning rostitute, the government stressed its actions on the image of the country. But rather than trying to solve or eliminate the problem, they put their effort in covering the problem instead. Other than women prostitution problem, child prostitution is also a growing problem in the country right now.

Because there is an apparent increasing demand globally, part of it is driven by the fear of AIDS and the belief that younger sex partners are free of disease. The laws were strengthened by new legislation which significantly increased the penalties for those caught engaging in sex with children. As applied to women prostitution, the law targets customers, procurers, pimps, and owners of brothels as well as parents who sell their children to profiteers. Moreover, foreign

nationals are not exempt from Thai law. Those who engage in sexual activity with children are subject to arrest and imprisonment.

Poverty is probably the most important factor contributing to the growth of child prostitution. Children offer themselves or, in some cases, are sold for sex in return for money. What is leading to this could be the lack of viable economic opportunities, particularly in rural areas, ombining with the desire for modern goods, are all contributing to the exploitation. To tackle at this prostitution problems, the government has taken initiatives which are designed to provide traing and economic opportunities to youngster who may be lured or tempted into prostitution.

In doing so, the government has opened vocational training centers in most part of the county. These centers provide Job skills training aiming at young women. Moreover the government also raised the minimum number of mandatory years of education to keep children in school longer and prepare them better for their future. Now, the combined effort of both government and non governmental organizations is beginning to turn the tide, since the growth of child prostitution in Thailand is slowing down now. unskilled labor.

But now with rapid economic development and a major decline in the population growth, Thailand would be facing a shortage of labor soon. However, this labor shortage is not universal and does not affect all types of labor. What is now needed is a skilled and better educated work force. Under current circumstances, it is expected there will be a shortage for skilled and semi-skilled labor in the near future. The demand for unskilled labor will increase more slowly, or even decreasing,

resulting in a surplus of unskilled labor.

Open Unemployment has never been a serious problem in Thailand, however this is likely to be an underestimate resulting from a poor unemployment rate fgure. If the rate were to be added in those who are waiting for the farming season and those seasonal economic active, then the unemployment rate could reach up to 15-16 percent. Due to recent policy that emphasizes more value-added types product, rather than labor intensive product, there is now a rapid growth increase in the demand for skilled labor.

Unfortunately, the educational system is unable to keep pace with this changing demand pattern. The shortage is placing a stress in the key areas of science and technology for the most part. This unemployment would further emphasizes on the nation's already acute income disparity. One of the reasons that cause the unemployment of unskilled labors could be child labor and alien labors. Some firms are trying to cut costs every where possible and one of the costs that were minimize is wages and salaries.

In doing so, firms hired child labor or aliens instead. With these labors, the firms don't have to provide ny extras facilities and support, moreover they usually have total control of their workers. Some might be paying at a very low rate, while some firms might not even pay but Just provide food and shelter in return. The majority of child laborers come from poor families. Often the income earned by these children constitutes a significant proportion of their families' total income.

Although the government had raised the legal working age up to 1 5 years old, and make secondary

education became compulsory, child labors are still inevitable. Affects from these policies will nfortunately place families that depend on the children's wages under undue economic hardship. Another problem that Thailand is facing right now is the income distribution, which is measured by the gini coefficient. That is, most of the countrys income is heavenly distributed in only among a small segment of the population, which could be said in the urban rich.

While the rural poor are still suffering below the poverty line. With the countrys growing economic, welfare, and infrastructure, there still seems to be a growing gap between the rich and the poor. In closing the gap, overnment policies in developing the rural area is in need, as well as the education system in the rural that is very lacking and are not standardize comparing with the urban areas. Drug is also a big problem in the country for decade, government, together with police force, has been trying to wipe out these drug sellers, producers, and help it is not a total wipe out.

The government launched a nation-wide comprehensive and intensive campaign against drugs through three intertwined pillars, namely the suppression of drug trade, treatment and rehabilitation, and prevention of new drug addiction. The campaign has drastically disrupted drug networks in the country As drug problem is transnational in nature, Thailand has sought to strengthen cooperation and partnership with the international community in its efforts to combat drugs, particularly with neighbouring countries.

Thailand has extended to Myanmar its successful experience in solving the drug problem at its root cause through alternative development project in Yongkha, a village in southern Shan state of

Myanmar near the Thai border, to offer viable crop substitution as an alternative to drug production for some 3,000 villagers there. The project has recently received financial support from Japan. Australia and other EIJ member countries have expressed interest to participate in this undertaking. With drugs addictive, it is leading to more drug-related crime rate, as well as decreasing in the welfare of the country.

The situation of human trafficking remains serious and the Thai government will continue to give high priority to tackling the problem at national and sub-regional levels. On the domestic front, concerned government agencies are formulating a national policy, a six-year action plan on the prevention and uppression of trafficking in women and children. The action plan serves to provide clear and practical guidelines for both government and non-government agencies concerned in their efforts to solve the problem and to ensure that their actions are well coordinated.

At the same time, various measures are being undertaken to address the problem in a comprehensive manner. These include strengthening of institutional structure, reform of relevant laws, coordination of assistance to and rehabilitation of victims, repatriation and monitoring, and raising awareness among target groups, communities and the general public. Once again, human trafficking issue is rooted from the poverty of those in rural area, mostly are undereducated. Parents are lured to sell their children off to these profiteers, without any knowledge of the consequences that could follow.

People in the rural area of the country are not having a sufficient level of health care from the government. Even though the thirty baht health scheme is in act right now, critics still are complaining that

the service performed for people holding the thirty bath health scheme card are not to the standard. And patient only received pain killer medicine for almost always. Moreover, when patient present the health scheme card, they often get different kind of service when comparing to patients that are paying full payment.

If the government does not have enough money to support this program and having the health scheme would Just make rural people felt unfairly treated and like they are a second class population, then the government could have wait until they are more ready with this policy and then establish with full capacity would be a better approached. Every country in this world would pretty much encounter certain degrees of social problems. No matter how developed that ountry is, social problems seem to be existed everywhere in the world.

Within any community or society, people would face a condition that is different from what they are expecting, which the problem would lies between the gap of reality and ideals. judgment, therefore it is claimed to be a social problem, and most of the population is concerned about and are trying to find a solution to that certain condition. Social problems could be dealt with by the government and or the help of other private sectors. Usually, how important each social problem is would be determined by how much that certain condition attracted the media's attention.