Skip to main content. You are here Home. Sex in grey areas 2 : how the junta threatens the lives of sex workers Submitted on Sun, 7 Jan - PM Bribes are unavoidable for businesses that operate in the grey market.
Sex businesses must forfeit considerable sums of money to the authorities to persuade them to turn a blind eye to sex work, especially if their businesses operate in tourist districts. He said that we had to pay. Otherwise, he would have the bar closed. No matter what, we have to pay. He said he came from Region 8 but who is Region 8? What does it do? According to June, each department demands between 1,, baht. While in the past, the bar forfeited around 2,, baht in bribes each week, that amount has now risen to 10, baht a week after the coup.
These officials do not provide evidence of the payments, nor does June have any way of determining whether they genuinely are department representatives. They never present IDs before collecting the money. Still, June has little choice but to pay the bribes to whoever these men are, out of a desire to avoid trouble. First, there are more than 40 four and five-star hotels. Second, there are small hotels and resorts. These make up per cent of service businesses.
Third, there are entertainment venues. There are about of these businesses along a street, and there are more along the beachfront. Our responsibilities are to check whether they are properly registered, whether their safety procedures are adequate, and whether they have an adequate waste management system yet. While the law prohibits sex work in Thailand, bribes involve big money for authorities. Although sex workers in Ao Nang report that they have no idea what becomes of these funds, they are relieved that authorities do not interfere with their work once bribes are paid.
But in some regions in Thailand, the authorities demand more than bribes from brothels. Sex workers in Mahachai, Samut Sakhon, face harassment from the authorities despite their employers paying bribes of up to 3, baht a day.
