Several Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand’s southern province of Ranong complained that they are cheated on salary and overtime payments.

Though minimum wage in Thailand is set at Bt300 a day, they said that actual payments are way below that.

One independent worker who has been in the province for over 10 years said that he never earned as much as Bt9,000 a month. Working on any job given, as a carpenter, mason, crab breeder, or helper on a fishing boat, he said that he only earned Bt4,000 a month from the jobs.

“They hiked it a bit if they wanted to. At best, I earned Bt7,000 a month,” said the worker who asked not to be named.

He added that overtime payments are usually ignored. Payments were made only with extra load of work.

“We can do nothing about it. We have to do everything they ask, even when we are bullied,” he noted.

A Myanmar migrant worker activist in the province admitted that work conditions of the workers are poor. Some workers are bullied even with the possession of all legal document. For those without document, they have to agree to take on any assignments.

The activist also noted that some workers, particularly those on fishing boats, do not have the knowledge of the Thai authorities’ issuance of legal document to migrant workers. His particular concern was for workers who were sold to work on fishing boats.

“No employer follows the law. Worse, some allege migrant workers of using drugs,” the activist said.

By: Myanmar Eleven