CambodianMigrantWorkers
05 JULY 2017 - ARYANAPHRATET, THAILAND: Cambodian migrant workers walk through the train yard in Aranyaphratet, Thailand, on the Thai-Cambodia border. The migrant workers are leaving Thailand after the Thai government proposed new rules for foreign workers. The new rules include fines of between 400,000 and 800,00 Thai Baht ($12,000 - $24,000 US) and jail sentences of up to five years for illegal workers and people who hire illegal workers. Hundreds of companies fired their Cambodian and Burmese workers and tens of thousands of workers left Thailand to return to their countries of origin. Employers and human rights activists complained about the severity of the punishment and sudden implementation of the rules. On Tuesday, 4 July, the Thai government suspended the new rules for 180 days and the Cambodian and Myanmar governments urged their citizens to stay in Thailand, but the exodus of workers continued through Wednesday. PHOTO BY JACK KURTZ
