Women saved from Thai factory were confined to room, barred from leaving

[webfact]

 

The 10 Myanmar nationals were freed after contacting a labor watchdog about their plight via Facebook Messenger.

Ten Burmese women rescued in October from a textile factory in Bangkok, Thailand, say they were held against their will for months and forced to pay “fees” that would have kept them perpetually indebted to their employers.

 

The women, who included both legal and undocumented workers, are just a few of what labor watchdogs say are “millions” of Myanmar nationals who migrated to Thailand seeking jobs in the aftermath of the military’s Feb. 1, 2021, coup d’etat. 

 

Rights groups say they are among the most vulnerable populations living in Thailand because they lack adequate protection from authorities both there and back home.

 

On Oct. 10, Thai police working with labor activist group Myanmar Humanitarian Action Center, or MHAC, freed the 10 women from Myanmar’s Sagaing and Bago regions from a room where the textile factory’s Thai owner had kept them confined when they weren’t working.

 

The women contacted MHAC via Facebook Messenger for help, sending photos of their room and living conditions, said Ye Min, head of the center.

 

“They sent photos of the room where they were confined. We used these photos as evidence,” he said. “We contacted an official Thai NGO – the Labor Protection Network – and authorities to rescue them.”

 

Police rescued the women and charges were filed against the factory owner under Thai law for failing to pay the minimum wage and confining the 10 against their will.

 

By Khin Khin Ei for RFA Burmese

PHOTO: Myanmar labor activists and Thai authorities rescue enslaved Myanmar women at a textile factory in Bangkok, Thailand, Oct.

10, 2023. //RFA

 

Full story: RFA 2023-11-08

 

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[retarius]

Hang the owner.

[Chris Daley]

They did ''flee from Myanmar'' they are casually found though agencies and were given jobs.  Thailand doesn't care one bit about refugees.

[Denim]

37 minutes ago, retarius said:

Hang the owner.

 

I'd settle for naming and shaming plus photograph of owner , his home and car.

[retarius]

Sometimes people can agree to disagree about the death penalty. I am for it in certain circumstances like human trafficking and serial murders and assaults involving small children.

[hotchilli]

5 hours ago, webfact said:

Ten Burmese women rescued in October from a textile factory in Bangkok, Thailand, say they were held against their will for months and forced to pay “fees” that would have kept them perpetually indebted to their employers.

I hope he doesn't get away with just a fine....

[jvs]

12 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I hope he doesn't get away with just a fine....

That will depend how high up the food chain he is and who his daddy is of course.

[tandor]

22 minutes ago, hotchilli said:

I hope he doesn't get away with just a fine....

well to be fair..recently a government clerk was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment for using a government vehicle on three occasions for his private use; so you would expect this guy will get fned at least 20 THB per person.

[FruitPudding]

3 hours ago, retarius said:

Sometimes people can agree to disagree about the death penalty. I am for it in certain circumstances like human trafficking and serial murders and assaults involving small children.

 

Totally agree.

 

Doesn't get much worse than human trafficking.

[brianthainess]

So where is Thailand on the human trafficking list now just remind me please. 

[Artisi]

2 hours ago, tandor said:

well to be fair..recently a government clerk was sentenced to 50 years imprisonment for using a government vehicle on three occasions for his private use; so you would expect this guy will get fned at least 20 THB per person.

That would be correct, 10 people x Bht 20 totals Bht 200, normal for such a crime. 

[still kicking]

2 hours ago, hotchilli said:

I hope he doesn't get away with just a fine....

Don't hold your breath TIT

[rudi49jr]

10 hours ago, Denim said:

 

I'd settle for naming and shaming plus photograph of owner , his home and car.

Not the usual 1,000 baht slap on the wrist, a few wai’s and apologies, but a hefty fine that will really hurt his wallet, plus ample compensation for the women. And a ban to ever own/operate a business again. Maybe a few weeks in jail would also be warranted.

[pub2022]

This is happening all over the world. It's called globalisation. Large companies increase their profits while workers see their fundamental rights diminished.