Seventeen Burmese workers, including 11 women, engaged in construction work at the Lat Yao district in Thailand, are allegedly compelled to labour without receiving their due wages.

Six men and eleven women, making a total of 17 people, entered into a two-year contract with a Myanmar-based employment agency. The contract stipulates their employment for construction work in Lat Yao District, Thailand, as confirmed by the workers on 10 November.

“Upon our arrival in Thailand for construction work, we were compelled to reside at Patong Thani for more than 20 days at our own cost, with no assigned tasks. Subsequently, upon being transferred to the actual work site, we encountered the issue of the employer refusing to pay our salary," said Zin Min Tun, one of the male workers.

According to the Burmese workers, they departed from Myanmar on 18 September and reached Thailand on the 20 September.

"We've been in Thailand for nearly two months. During the first month, we were jobless. Now, even when we secure employment, the employer refuses to pay our salary. No one is assuming responsibility, and as a result, we are grappling with challenges related to food and accommodation," Than Than Soe, a female worker told Mizzima.

Migrant workers from Myanmar, arriving in Thailand through arrangements made by employment agencies, often encounter issues such as non-payment, job scarcity, and violations of labour rights, as reported by people assisting migrant workers in Thailand.

The Bangkok Post newspaper reports that 400,000 legally employed workers from Myanmar sought employment in Thailand following the military coup in Myanmar.

Additionally, people assisting migrant workers in Thailand stated that there are millions of both documented and undocumented Myanmar workers in the country.