IOM, YouTube Stars Launch Campaign to Prevent Exploitation in Manufacturing

Bangkok – Young Thais truly have the power to change the world. This was the message at the launch of IOM X’s Do you know who made it? campaign today (27/03), which asks young Thais to take the lead in making smart purchasing decisions that reinforce the fair treatment of workers in the manufacturing industry.IOM X is a campaign to prevent human trafficking and exploitation, run by IOM, the UN Migration Agency, and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).

In partnership with some of Thailand’s top YouTube stars, IOM X will reach more than 13 million Thai YouTube users with stories that highlight both the good side and the bad side of the manufacturing industry.

From Bie the Ska’s drama depicting a father’s misery on the production line of a mobile phone factory, producing the very product his daughter is begging him for; to VRZO’s Happy, an ironic look at how clothes are marketed, versus how they are made; and BILLbilly01’s animated music video highlighting the fact that there are real people making the clothes that we wear; IOM X’s Do you know who made it?campaign takes a deep dive into the manufacturing industry.

YouTube creator Softpomz gets the inside scoop from kids on what’s fair and what’s not when it comes to work, while Picnicly interviews restaurant owners working to improve the lives of their staff and suppliers.

“Here’s the truth: whenever we make a purchase, we risk supporting exploitation,” said IOM X Programme Leader Tara Dermott. “But if we choose what we buy wisely, we can contribute to breaking the cycle of abuse that harms the people behind the products.”