Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Achara Ashayagachat.

Aung San Suu Kyi visits migrant workers

• Published: 31/05/2012 at 10:09 AM

Aung San Suu Kyi visits migrant workers

It was an exciting day for Myanmar migrant workers in the Samut Sakhon area.

A special visitor came to see them, Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi herself.

The thousands of workers gathered outside the Migrant Worker Rights Network offices in Mahachai clearly liked what they heard.

"I've come to Thailand to learn about your conditions and I will never forget your problems," Mrs Suu Kyi  told the workers.

"I'll try to develop our country so that you can go back home and apply your skills and knowledge and make our nation prosper."

After her appearance at the balcony, Mrs Suu Kyi spoke inside the office with a group of migrant workers to hear the problems they faced working in Thailand.

After learning of their problems, Mrs Suu Kyi suggested they set up a centre to exchange information and lessons learned in order to improve their ability to protect their own basic rights.

She told the workers she will raise their issues with Thai authorities as well as at the International Labour Conference in Geneva next month.

Myanmar's opposition National League for Democracy leader is scheduled today to meet Chalerm Yoobamrung, the deputy prime minister and chairman of the Committee on Foreign Workers Administration.

The two are expected to discuss the problems facing migrant workers.

As Myanmar opens its doors to democracy and Southeast Asia prepares to integrate into the Asean Economic Community in 2015, Thailand  is worried that migrant workers will return home, leaving Thailand short of cheap labour.

Workers have complained about the high cost of national verification and registration and loopholes in heathcare, with half of all registered migrant workers without social security coverage.

Samut Sakhon governor Junlaphat Sangchan said the province has improved facilities to support migrants.

''Now we have 1,000 Myanmar-speaking health volunteers stationed at the tambon levels to help migrants communicate with officials,'' he said.

Adapted from a story in today's Bangkok Post by Achara Ashayagachat.
migrant worker – someone who travels to another place or country in order to find work opposition – of a political party that is not part of the government
gather – to come together in a group
right – something that you are morally or legally allowed to do or have
network – a large system of connected parts, organisations, people, etc.
conditions – the circumstances or situation in which people live, work or do things          

 develop – to think of or produce a new idea, product, etc. and make it successful; to build new houses, factories, etc. on an area of land, especially land that was not being used effectively before
apply – to make use of something
skill – the ability to do something well, usually as a result of experience and training
prosper – to develop in a successful way; to be successful, especially in making money
overcome – to become very emotional, weak, ill, or unconscious
emotion – strong feeling such as anger or love, or strong feelings in general 
appearance – an act of appearing in public
balcony – a place where you can stand just outside an upper window. It sticks out from the wall of a building
suggest – to mention an idea or a plan for somebody else to think about 
issue – a problem that needs to be considered
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law
cramped – not having enough space or time
scheduled – planned to happen at a particular time or day
deputy – a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation
integrate – to combine things of different types in one effective system
short of – not having enough of something
labour – people whose job involves hard physical work that is not skilled, especially work that is done outdoors
complain – to say that you are annoyed, unhappy or not satisfied about somebody/something

verification – the process of checking that something is true or accurate                     

 registration – the process of recording names or information on an official list                

 loophole – a small mistake in an agreement or law which gives someone the chance to avoid having to do something  social security – money that the government pays regularly to people who are poor, unemployed, sick, etc
coverage – protection that an insurance company or government provides by promising to pay you money if a particular event happens
facilities – the buildings, equipment and services provided for a particular purpose        

volunteer – someone who is not paid for the work that they do
station – to cause to be in a particular place to do a job