The Burmese Association in Thailand (BAT) rescued 22 Burmese migrant
workers who were being locked inside and forced to work 4 am to 10 pm daily
without day off at the Shrimp factory at Mahachai, Samut Sakon province in
Thailand.
Sayar
Taw U Zaw Ti Ka, a member of BAT said “They didn’t have to go to anywhere from
the factory, even on Sunday and no day off, the employer not told them even the
average minimum wage that he will pay. They just got only pocked money from the
owner”.
“Most of
the workers came from a village near Taungoo town, Bago Division to Thailand
with an agent last 2 months ago. Agent told us all the costs 16,000 baht for
each worker will be cut from wages if they earned our wages (270 baht per day
and 55 baht for overtime pay). But, actually we got only 100-200 baht per month.
We were not allowed to go out, only up and down stair of the factory and being
forced to work hard.
We
couldn’t send money back to our family, tired of working, sleepless, no day
off. If one is feeling sick and couldn’t work, the employer told him to go to
clinic. If he didn’t go to clinic and go to work, he told will send him to the
police. So, have to work though feeling sick. For girls, he will send to the
place where prostitutes are take place.” said an employee.
Some
workers will go back to Burma and some are looking for other jobs. To go back to Burma safely, we cooperated
with the local authorities from Myawaddy said U Zaw Ti ka.
