Introduction to Andy Hall

Andy Hall is a human rights defender and an independent migrant worker rights specialist, researcher/investigator and activist who was born in the United Kingdom in 1979 (LinkedIn profile see https://np.linkedin.com/in/andyhall1979)

During his 12 years living and working in Thailand (2005 to 2016), Andy became an internationally recognised human rights defender, migrant worker rights specialist and campaigner working on migrant worker rights, empowerment and modern-day slavery issues in global supply chains.

During these many years in Thailand, Andy particularly engaged with the plight of impoverished and exploited migrant workers from Cambodia and Myanmar.

In addition to his key role since 2009 as an international affairs advisor to the Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN) in Thailand, Andy also founded the Human Rights and Development Foundation’s (HRDF) Migrant Justice Programme in 2007, was a foreign expert in migration at the Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR) at Mahidol University from 2011 to 2013 and during 2013 was an advisor to the Myanmar government under an EU funded migration project.

Andy decided to leave Thailand in November 2016 due to an evident increase in risks to his person and his inability to work effectively. This was a result of employers launching criminal prosecutions against him due to his increasingly effective advocacy campaigns responding to worker abuses in international supply chains.

Andy is currently continuing his advisory work to civil society and business organisations across Asia and Europe on issues of migrant worker rights in global supply chains, with a particular focus on ethical recruitment and forced labour issues impacting on migrant workers in Malaysia, Thailand and the Gulf.

Since 2018, Andy has focused on forced labour issues facing migrant workers from Bangaldesh, India, Indonesia, Myanmar and Nepal toiling in Malaysia, particularly during the COVID19 pandemic and in rubber glove supply chains in the country.

Recently, Andy has also started exploring forced labour issues in Malaysia’s EMS, electronics and furniture industries.

Some Past and Present Moments

From 2018 to 2021, Andy was a special advisor on migration issues to Impactt, an ethical trade consultancy organisation in the UK, providing general advice and capacity building on migration issues to the staff team.

From 2020, Andy has been an advisor on migrant worker management issues, mainly focusing on foreign worker ethical recruitment issues, to CP Group (Thailand) and Sime Darby Plantations (Malaysia). In 2021, he commenced work as an advisor to glove maker Central Medicare in Malaysia also. Andy frequently does investor briefings on migrant worker management issues and works on several ethical recruitment pilot projects across Asia.

Back in the beginning days of his migrant related work in May 2012, Andy organised Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s globally publicised visit to a migrant community in Mahachai, Samut Sakorn, Thailand.

During 2013, Andy worked for the International Management Group (IMG) under an EU funded project to support Myanmar’s Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security (MoLES) on migration policy development.

From 2009 onwards, Andy has voluntarily advised and assisted the Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN), a Myanmar migrant worker membership based organization with over 5, 000 members, based in Mahachai, Samut Sakorn, Thailand and Yangon, Myanmar. He was international affairs advisor to MWRN from 2014 to 2016.

From 2007 to 2016, Andy voluntarily advised and assisted Thailand’s largest independent union confederation, the State Enterprise Workers Relations Confederation of Thailand (SERC), as an International Affairs Advisor.

From September 2014, Andy worked to support a defense team working to ensure a fair trial and justice for the two Myanmar worker accused in the Koh Tao murder case

From 2016 until the present time, Andy has been an advisor to Electronics Watch on migrant workers and forced labour issues.

Mahidol University, Thailand
From February 2011 to January 2013, Andy worked as a foreign expert in migration at the Institute for Population and Social Research (IPSR) at Mahidol University, Thailand. He conducted both migration research and teaching of masters students.

Other past work

From 2007 to 2011, Andy worked in the Human Rights and Development Foundation (HRDF) in Bangkok, Thailand. In 2007, he founded and directed the Migrant Justice Program (MJP) under HRDF in Chiangmai Province and then, from 2008, also in Mahachai, Samut Sakorn Province. Andy led various campaigns domestically, regionally and internationally on migrant rights and networked extensively with media, international human rights organisations, domestic trade union networks and the United Nations. In 2010, Andy became a consultant to HRDF continuing his work in seeking to systematically address discrimination against migrants.

From 2005 to 2007, Andy worked in MAP Foundation, Chiangmai, Thailand as a Migrant Worker Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Project Coordinator.

In 2004-2005, Andy was doing voluntary research on EU Common Agricultural Policy for civic organisation Oxfam in Wales, UK.

From 2002, Andy tutored students in criminology, sociology and law both at the Criminology Department at the University of Melbourne, Australia and the University of Cardiff, Wales. From 2001, Andy also did research as part of the UK Government’s Crime Reduction Strategy and ‘What Works’ policy for reducing re-offending at the Center for Criminological Research, the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom.

Education
Andy has a LLB laws – 1st Class Honours Degree from University College London (UCL). He studied for a PhD from the Centre for Business Relationships, Accountability, Sustainability and Society (BRASS) at Cardiff University, Wales and at the Criminology Department at the University of Melbourne. His thesis was looking at proposals to develop occupational health and safety (OHS) laws relating to organisational criminal responsibility for industrial deaths but he took leave of his PhD to urgently assist migrant workers in Thailand. Hall has been awarded several academic prizes and scholarships.

Key personal media references, research and academic publications

(The Guardian) Human rights in Thailand: Andy Hall’s legal battle to defend migrant workers https://amp.theguardian.com/global-development-professionals-network/2016/jan/22/human-rights-thailand-andy-hall-legal-battle-migrant-workers

(The Independent) Andy Hall: British human rights activist facing jail in Thailand for exposing sweatshop labour http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/a6956331.html?amp

(Reuters) EXCLUSIVE – Prominent UK rights activist, fearing for safety, leaves Thailand https://www.reuters.com/article/idUKL4N1D707W

(Edge Weekly, Malaysia) Malaysia’s migrant labour conundrum: A conversation with Andy Hall https://www.theedgemarkets.com/article/malaysias-migrant-labour-conundrum-conversation-andy-hall

(Edge Weekly, Malaysia) Andy Hall – activist: friend, foe and whistleblower https://t.co/JTv5BeSvNE

Key Personal Publications

November 2022

Is there any hope left for ethical recruitment certification schemes such as IOM IRIS? (Updated) https://andyjhall.wordpress.com/2022/11/01/1st-nov-2022-is-there-any-hope-left-for-ethical-recruitment-certification-schemes-such-as-iom-iris/

5 key issues (root causes) that companies/brands/MSIs participating in yet another Global Forum on Responsible Recruitment #GFRR2022 need to consider to understand properly why ethical recruitment is not becoming a workable reality on the ground https://andyjhall.wordpress.com/2022/11/01/1st-nov-2022-5-key-issues-root-causes-that-companies-brands-msis-participating-in-yet-another-global-forum-on-responsible-recruitment-gfrr2022-need-to-consider-to-understand-properly-why-ethical-r/

5 key yet simple questions to ask those companies/brands/MSIs participating in yet another Global Forum on Responsible Recruitment #GFRR2022 https://andyjhall.wordpress.com/2022/11/01/1st-nov-2022-5-key-yet-simple-questions-to-ask-those-companies-brands-msis-participating-in-yet-another-global-forum-on-responsible-recruitment-gfrr2022/

January 2022

Safeguarding Bangladesh’s migrant workers https://netra.news/2022/safeguarding-bangladeshs-migrant-workers/amp/

April 2020

Don’t forget the people behind the PPE – migrant workers meeting the surge in demand for medical gloveshttps://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/dont-forget-people-behind-ppe-migrant-workersmeeting-surge/

Thailand’s migrant workers at risk during pandemic

Thailand’s migrant workers at risk during pandemic

October 2019

The US is taking action on forced labour in Malaysia’s rubber glove industry. Will EU follow suit? https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/the-us-is-taking-action-on-forced-labour-in-malaysias-rubber-glove-industry-will-the-eu-follow-suit

July 2019

How can responsible recruitment of migrant workers move from rhetoric to reality? https://www.business-humanrights.org/en/how-can-responsible-recruitment-of-migrant-workers-move-from-rhetoric-to-reality

April 2018

The Role of the Trade Union Movement in the Global Forum on Migration and Development and the Global Compact on Migration: Migration research for lobbying and campaigning (published by FNV Mondiaal)

2012 to 2016

Columnist (voluntary) Bangkok Post see http://www.bangkokpost.com/opinion/columnist/463

2012
Hall, A. (2012) Submission to the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Thailand’s Adherence to Obligations under the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD): Migrant Worker Policies and Practice

Hall, A. (2012) Experiences of Myanmar Migrant Workers in Thailand with the MoU Import Process (IPSR, Nakhon Pathom)

Hall, A. (2012) Myanmar and Migrant Workers: Briefing and Recommendations (IPSR, Nakhon Pathom)

2011
Hall, A. (2011) ‘Migration and Thailand: Policy, Perspectives and Challenges’ in Huguet, J. and Chamratrithirong, A. (Eds.) Migration for Development in Thailand: Overview and Tools for Policymakers (IOM, Bangkok)

Archavanitkul, K. and Hall, A. (2011) ‘Migration Workers and Human Rights in a Thai Context’ in Huguet, J. and Chamratrithirong, A. (Eds.) Migration for Development in Thailand: Overview and Tools for Policymakers (IOM, Bangkok)

Hall, A. (2011) Migrant Workers, Social Protection and ASEAN (FES/MFA, Manila)

Hall, A. (Ed.) (2011) Snap Shot Stories from Invisible Trafficking Victims: 10 Case Studies for the UN Special Rapporteur on Trafficking in Persons (IPSR, Nakhon Pathom)

Hall, A. (2011) Thailand and Irregular Migration Policy (submission to the UN Migrant Rights Committee Day of Discussion on Irregular Migration, Geneva, 19th Sept)

Hall, A. (2011) Global Financial Institutions: Thai Policy and Practice (ALNI, Bangkok)

Hall, A. (2011) ‘Low Skilled Migration and Thailand: Prospects for 2011’ in Hall, A. (eds.) Mahidol Migrant Center Newsletter Edition 2, 1st July

Hall, A. (2011) ‘Migration Management in Thailand Reaches a Crossroads’ Nation, 4th May

2010

Hall, A. (2010) ‘Positive U-Turn but Still No Long Term Solutions’ Bangkok Post, 22nd Apr

2010

Hall, A. (2010) ‘Golden Chance to Boost Migration Policies’ Bangkok Post, 17th Dec

Hall, A., (2010) ‘Guilt Lies with Thais, Not Migrant Workers’ Bangkok Post, 4th Oct

Hall, A. (2010) ‘Life is no easier for legal Burmese migrants’ Nation, 10th Sept

Hall, A. (2010) ‘Lost Faces in Another Migration Debate’ Bangkok Post, 17th Feb

Hall, A. (2010) ‘Managing Migration in 2010: Effective Registration or Effective Deportation’ Nation, 11th Jan

2009
Hall, A. (2009) ‘Nationality Verification of Burmese Migrants: Meaningful Debate’ Nation, 30th Oct

2005
Hall, A. and Johnstone, R. (2005) ‘Exploring the Re-Criminalising of Occupational Health and Safety (OHS) Breaches in the Context of Industrial Death’ Flinders Journal of Law Reform 8(1): 57 (Australia)

2004
Haines, F and Hall, A. (2004) ‘The Law and Order Debate in Occupational Health and Safety (OHS)’ Journal of Occupational Health and Safety – Australia and New Zealand 19: 263 (Australia)

Hall, A., Johnstone, R. and Ridgway, A. (2004) Reflection On OHS Reforms: Developing Criminal Accountability For Industrial Deaths, Australian National Research Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, Australian National University, Working Paper 33 (Australia)

McMahon, G., Hall, A., Hayward, G., Hudson, C., and Roberts, C. (2004) Basic Skills Programmes in the Probation Service: An Evaluation of the Basic Skills Pathfinder, United Kingdom Home Office Online Report 14/04 (UK)