Pulitzer Center grantee Jesse Hardman talks with Latitudes on WAMU about the dangers Burmese migrants face in the Thai fishing industry.
The Plight of the Burmese in Thailand
Up to 3 million Burmese migrants have flooded into Thailand where employers are taking advantage, mistreating them and often paying little more than slave wages.
Desperate to escape political and economic suffering, many Burmese migrate to Thailand only to discover things can get worse. Millions become victims of exploitation and human trafficking.
Thousands of Burmese cross the border into Thailand each year to escape corruption in their home country. They work 12-hour days and make just two dollars a day, but to them, it's worth it.
Labor recruiters or "brokers" help Burmese migrants cross the border into Thailand. Once here, migrants work long hours under harsh conditions to repay the brokers.
Thailand's Pheu Thai party wins a clear majority in Parliament. Supporters, the Red Shirts, express hope that elections will restore democracy, but worry about the future and political infighting.
As Thailand's parliamentary elections approach, courting voters has become a creative visual endeavor. But despite a myriad of choices, only two parties will have a real impact on the elections.
Grantee
Jesse Hardman is a reporter and international media development specialist. His work is featured on National Public Radio, TIME.com, and a number of other national and...