Suradej Nil-ubol, president of the fishing association, said the 370 fishing workers have been registered and have a “sea book”, allowing them to work on Thai fishing boats.

They are capable fishing crew members but are due to be deported by the end of next month for having no passports, he said.

But passports were denied them by Myanmar authorities staffing the One Stop Service in Songkhla, he said. Officials declined to issue passports for the 370 Myanmar workers on the grounds that they are Muslims.

The Myanmar officials cited a Myanmar policy excluding Muslims from receiving passports, Suradej said.

Under Thai policy, all documented migrants must have their nationality verified and hold passports.

Without them, the 370 Muslim fishermen would be sent back home at the end of September to get passports before being allowed to work, said Suradej.

That would be a big loss for the Songkhla fishing industry, which has a need for the 370 experienced crewmen, he said.

The workers have been registered with the Thai authorities and carry migrant identification cards issued by the Thai authorities, said Suradej.

The Labour Ministry should find a special solution for this group of workers, and ensure they are able to work in the industry, which is suffering from a staff shortage, he said.

“I beg the governemnt to find a solution for this group of workers so that they can remain working in Thailand,” Suradej said.