Picture courtesy of Khaosod

 

TAK - In a dramatic rescue, two Thai women have been freed from forced prostitution in Myawaddy, Myanmar, after being lured there by a bogus job offer. The operation involved the Pavena Foundation for Children and Women, working alongside Thai law enforcement to extract the victims, who had been promised lucrative nightclub jobs only to find themselves trapped.

 

The rescue mission was set in motion by the courageous actions of a 27-year-old victim, referred to as A, who managed to alert the Pavena Foundation. A familiar contact on Facebook had enticed her with promises of a salary ranging from 50,000 to 70,000 baht per month. On November 1, she left her hometown for Myawaddy, crossed the Moei River, and ultimately fell into prostitution under false pretences.

 

Once at the venue, A discovered she was one of many women held in dire conditions. The woman who had invited her, known as “BB,” vanished, leaving her in the clutches of a Chinese employer who imposed a fictitious debt on her and coerced her into sex work. On November 18, A seized a chance to escape by secretly geotagging and photographing the location, but her captors quickly confiscated her phone and subjected her to brutal beatings.

 

Despite the horrific treatment, the venue continued to exploit her, threatening penalties for her escape attempt. Yet, A’s persistence paid off. Once she regained access to her phone, she reached out once more to the Pavena Foundation on December 3. With the verified coordinates, Pavena coordinated a successful rescue mission with the police.

 

This rescue echoes a recent operation by Bang Phli police, who saved a university student tricked into a call centre scam. Such incidents underscore the ongoing challenges of human trafficking and related scams.

 

• Two Thai women were rescued from forced prostitution in Myanmar.
• A victim's alert led to collaboration between Thai authorities and the Pavena Foundation.
• This highlights ongoing issues of human trafficking and scams in the region.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Thaiger 2025-12-11

 

 

 

I understand the desire to earn more money and have a better life.  Many similar stories offering 3 times average wage in Thailand.  One I know of they earned 60 % of the 45,000 baht that was promised so around 27,000 baht.  After paying the facilitator, flight, etc they Lost money compared to staying in Thailand working there other job.

 

One was I think 50,000 to 60,000 Baht for a job in Cambodia.  Ended up finding out through a friend it was a Scam Call Center and he didn't go luckily.

 

Glad their okay.  Sometimes you need to ask, Why can't they find someone in Myanmar that can work the "Nightclub Job" for the amount they are offering.

 

Need to understand in the Thai mind sometimes they are going to believe what they want to believe.  I asked about the job they were paid only 60% and they were relying on the blind trust of a person they never meet on Facebook.  Couldn't tell me any details besides the Facilitator has a Restaurant job lined up paying 45,000.

I went to a pub in Silom district earlier this week where all the serving women were from Myanmar. When I ordered Thai food for myself and guests from abroad they did not understand Thai. I ordered the dishes in Thai language, and was not sure of the correct English names for the food.I assume they are paid the minimum wage of about B10-12K per month, so why would a Thai think they can earn 3-4 times that money in a restaurant in Myanmar

1 hour ago, Chris BKK said:

I went to a pub in Silom district earlier this week where all the serving women were from Myanmar. When I ordered Thai food for myself and guests from abroad they did not understand Thai.

That's why I always select a restaurant with pictures.

2 hours ago, Chris BKK said:

I went to a pub in Silom district earlier this week where all the serving women were from Myanmar. When I ordered Thai food for myself and guests from abroad they did not understand Thai. I ordered the dishes in Thai language, and was not sure of the correct English names for the food.I assume they are paid the minimum wage of about B10-12K per month, so why would a Thai think they can earn 3-4 times that money in a restaurant in Myanmar

I am fairly certain minimum wage legislation does not apply to non Thai nationals.

 

1 hour ago, JJ-Thailand said:

That's why I always select a restaurant with pictures.

 

Of the servers?

They look quite fit.

 

On 12/11/2025 at 3:05 AM, webfact said:

promises of a salary ranging from 50,000 to 70,000 baht per month

 

I'm sure that it was totally surprising that a job in Myanmar for a woman in her 20s paying 70k baht per month included sex work.

1 hour ago, JJ-Thailand said:

That's why I always select a restaurant with pictures.

Of waitresses ?