Thailand: Confronting exploitation

Cross-border migrants from Myanmar, especially children and young women, are an invisible yet integral part of the Thai economy, particularly in agriculture, fishing, manufacturing and domestic service. Many estimates put the figure of Burmese migrants in Thailand as high as 2 million. A significant number of them are exploited, ranging from non-payment or underpayment of wages, excessive work hours, use of hazardous equipment to forced labour or no freedom of movement. Lack of knowledge on their rights, as well as lack of channels to seek assistance, enables much of the abuse. Burmese migrant workers, as well as migrants from other countries, very rarely turn to the legal system to claim their rights and compensation. This is largely due to their distrust of the legal system, fear of government officials, lack of resources and insufficient language skills.