Migrants arrested ahead of Suu Kyi's Thai visit

Suu Kyi, state counsellor and foreign affairs minister, will begin her three-day visit on June 23. She is scheduled to meet migrant workers and Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha. Minister for Labour Affairs Thein Swe will join the delegation.
The Joint Action Committee for Burma Affairs and Myanmar Migrant Network Thailand will submit a complete report to Suu Kyi, said Moe Gyo of both groups.
"If I have a chance to speak with them, I will highlight the difficulties and challenges facing Myanmar migrant workers," said Moe Gyo.
Most of the factory workers are reported to be earning between 100 baht (Ks3,400) and 200 baht although they should earn 300 baht daily, according to the Thai labour law. In some factories, they were allegedly forced to signing a statement that they earned 300 baht per day, although they do not.
A factory worker in Mae Sot said: "They do not really earn a daily wage of 300 baht and 56 baht per hour for overtime. But when they were asked they said they earned the set amount."
Moe Gyo said more than 100 Myanmar workers had been arrested although some were released if their bosses paid 1,500-2,000 baht. Some were detained because they were undocumented while others had different employers from the one named in their documents, he added.
An estimated 400,000 Myanmar migrants are working in Thai factories.