Hundreds of migrant workers have been arrested in Samut Sakhorn west of Bangkok, Thailand, according to eye witnesses.

Nai Htow Ong, a Mon community leader from southern Ye who works at the Maharchai fishing industry, said about 600 migrant workers were arrested this week but most of them were later released at the police station after paying a fine.

“They were not deported to the border (Thai-Burma) this time but most of them had to pay about 2,000 to 3,000 Baht to the local police,” he added.

A young Mon, Nay Lin who just arrived in Maharchai from northern Ye, said it is difficult to get a job without Identity Cards or Worker Registration Permit nowadays.

Some brokers in close contact with the local police sell ID cards for undocumented workers, allowing migrant workers to apply for jobs without fear of arrest.  It has not been confirmed if these IDs are duplicated from registered workers or completely fabricated.  The IDs that include the workers name, photograph, address and expiry date are sold for 500 Baht.

A Mon social worker in Bangkok said the local Thai community is not well informed about migrant workers as the Thai media normally releases negative news stories that paint a bad picture of immigrants and are biased in favour of Thai employers.  He added that the Maharchai area is infamous for lawlessness, where local mafia gangs cooperate with Thai employees and many workers are abused.

It has been estimated that 200,000 migrant workers from Burma live in Samut Sahorn and Samut Somkhram (Maharchai and Meklong) provinces.

According to the Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB) based in Bangkok, the migrant population in Maharchai is predominantly of Mon or Burman ethnic origin. Over half of these workers are women and young girls. Many workers come to Thailand so that they are in a better position to be able to assist their families and friends they have brought with them to Thailand or those who remain back home in Burma.