Originally from Mon state, Myanmar, 43-year-old, Win Hlaing, is a rubber processor in Surat Thani province, Thailand.

In 2000, at the age of 21, Win was smuggled across to Thailand in a boat, ending up in Ranong province where he got a job as a rubber tapper. After three months of working on the rubber plantation, he obtained his working documents. Later, he moved to Chumphon province where he worked for eight years on another rubber plantation. For the past 15 years, he has worked in  Surat Thani for a variety of employers.          

Win Hlaing’s work wasn’t easy, and he recalled many stories of abuse and unfair labor practices. One story he remembers occurred during his time in Surat Thani. He had to pay the owner of a rubber plantation 15,000 baht for the right to harvest latex. Unfortunately, once the rubber was cut, the owner refused to give him a fair price and Win Hlaing not only lost the 15,000 baht, but also the other money he was hoping to make.

Photo by Luke Duggleby