Burmese Workers Return Home Amidst Thailand's Migrant Labour Crackdown

MYAWADDY, BURMA - JULY 15: Shan migrant workers who work for a flower vendor in Bangkok arrive to Myawaddy to renew their work permits before they expire on July 15, 2017 in Myawaddy, Burma. Thousands of Burmese migrants returned to Myanmar from Thailand over the past two weeks, as they fled across the border with belongings stuffed into backpacks and duffel bags since the Thai government enacted a new labor regulation, where undocumented migrant laborers can spend up to five years in prison and receive fines between 2,000 to 100,000 baht (US$60 to US$2,935). Over 60,000 migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam have fled Thailand, fearing arrest after the new labor regulations took effect as the Thai government aims to tackle human trafficking concerns raised by the international community and resolve the growing number of undocumented migrant workers. Based on reports, many illegal migrants take up difficult and dangerous jobs in Thailand's factories and fishing boats but despite the hardship, many of the Burmese migrants still see better hope in Thailand due to the dire poverty in their homeland and a lack of jobs and good wages. (Photo by Lauren DeCicca/Getty Images)