"During the whole season, the military authorities allegedly engaged Chin people in construction of army camps, bridges and roads, transporting army ration, in Jatropha and tea plantations. Some have also been forced to attend military training," India based the Federal Trade Union of Chin (FTUC) said in its statement released today.

FTUC also reported that as a result of the outbreak of forced labour and human rights abuse practiced by the military regime in Chin state, ethnic people have no option but to flee to neighbouring countries such as India, Thailand and Malaysia.

According to the FTUC statement, over 80,000 Chins had fled from Burma and were living in Mizoram state in northeast India and around 30,000 were settled in Malaysia. However, it did not mention the number of Chin refugees and immigrant workers who were living in Thailand.

To make conditions worse, the people in Chin state also face a famine-like food crisis resulting from bamboo plants flowering along the Indo–Burma border areas, which multiply rats. Rats destroy paddy field and stocks as a result the paddy production rate sharply fall in Chin state.

Naturally, bamboo plants flower once in 50 years, when its lifespan comes to an end.

The FTUC said around 64 households had left Chin state and arrived in Mizoram in India, due to the prevalent food crisis in Chin state.

Most Chin refugees in Mizoram survive by working as housemaids, bus drivers and are also employed in the weaving industry, goldsmith shops and other manual work. Their daily income ranges from INR 90 to 150 on the basis of the job.

Meanwhile, some others are believed to be involved in the liquor business which is prohibited by local authorities.

FTUC further elaborated that some Chins in Mizoram had faced irregular pay and sexual harassment from their employers.

Chin refugees in Malaysia also work as housemaids and in house construction, rubber plantations and restaurants. Normally, their labour wage ranges from Malaysian Ringgit 15 to 30.

According FTUC's statement, some Chins in Thailand and Malaysia have been sold by human traffickers. Not only to neighbouring countries, the people from Chin state have also moved to mining areas in Kachin state and Shan state in Burma in search of better lives.

FTUC has called on Chin workers in different places in and outside Burma to work hard for the privileges that a labourer should enjoy regarding equal payment and security of service.