They were sent back to their homeland by Thai employers worried about hefty fines that the new law on foreign workers imposes.

Taking effect from June 23, the Royal Ordinance on Foreign Workers Management threatens to fine an employer at least Bt400,000 per each illegal worker he or she hires.

“I don’t know why Thailand has decided to impose such heavy penalty,” a Myanmar official said on condition of anonymity as Myanmar authorities extend help to these desperate workers.

Hundreds of food boxes were handed out for free to help these migrants cope.

The official said, “I think such tough law runs against the Thai government’s policies to promote trade and investments”.

Muang Zhor, 25, lamented that he had paid a Bt3,000 brokerage fee but lost money for nothing.

“I was supposed to start working for a factory. But when I arrived there, the factory owner said he did not dare hiring me in the face of tough law,” he said.