Thai authorities detain 21 Myanmar migrant workers on way to Malaysia

Narinjara News, 28 February 2023

The authorities in Thailand arrested 21 Myanmar migrant workers on 24 February, who were leaving for Malaysia in search of employment.

According to Thai media reports, they were arrested in Su-ngai Kolok township under Narathiwat province of southern Thailand.

The migrant workers allegedly entered into the country's Kanchanaburi district through an illegal border road. Their destination was Malaysia where they planned to work.

Ko Saw Maung, who is working on Myanmar labour affairs, informed Narinjara News that despite officially applying for works abroad through the MOU system, the workers face unexplained delays and finally they are compelled to leave by any means.

"If it was easy to go legally, they would have gone that way. There is no job opportunity in Myanmar and so the workers try to go out for some earnings. But if the arrangement is illegal, the workers get arrested by the concerned authorities,” he added.

Among the arrested migrant workers, there are 18 men and 3 women. They were detained by the Thai officials from a forest near Pasir Mas in Su-ngai Kolok town.

Mentionable is that Narathiwat province locates on the border of Thailand and Malaysia. Myanmar migrant workers are often arrested by the Thai authorities from this province.