Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has asked her diplomats in Bangkok to work more effectively in tackling problems related to migrant workers.
"Ms Suu Kyi wants to increase efficiency and swiftness of the actions taken by the Myanmar embassy here in dealing with problems related to Myanmar workers," Sein Htey, president of the Migrant Worker Rights Network, said after a meeting with her at the Myanmar embassy yesterday.
"The embassy should be a channel that inquires about the problems ... our people face here," he quoted Ms Suu Kyi as saying.
Apart from Sein Htey, 10 other labour rights activists based in Thailand were present at the embassy.
Only Myanmar nationals were allowed to participate in the discussion.
Speaking to the Bangkok Post Sunday, Sein Htey said the national leader acknowledged problems existed in Thailand.
"She [Ms Suu Kyi] insisted at the meeting that the well-being of all Myanmar people residing across this country is the responsibility of the Myanmar government," he said.
Min Tun, an activist working with the Labour Rights Promotion Network based in Samut Sakhon where thousands of Myanmar migrants work, also called on the embassy to make more of an effort in this regard.
"When Myanmar workers face problems, they usually approach us, not the embassy," he said.
"NGOs in Thailand and in Myanmar have worked together to address the problems, in most cases without participation of the embassy."
He said Ms Suu Kyi has asked for cooperation from Myanmar activists to educate her nation's workers in Thailand to understand and comply with Thai laws.
"Our people should respect the law of the host country. If we do not follow the law, we are the ones who are going to be in trouble," he quoted Ms Suu Kyi as saying.
Ahead of her one-hour meeting at the embassy, Ms Suu Kyi travelled to a self-sufficiency learning centre in Nakhon Pathom's Sam Phran district, where she was warmly welcomed by Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha's wife, Naraporn.
Besides Ms Naraporn, about 100 Myanmar migrant workers were delighted when they caught a glimpse of Ms Suu Kyi, who lowered her window and waved as her car slowly moved past the group gathering opposite Wat Bang Chang Tai.
The Myanmar State Counsellor travelled to the centre in the late morning amid tight security with 200 police and military officers accompanying her motorcade.
Seeing the roadside crowded with well-wishers shouting "Me Suu" (Mother Suu), Ms Suu Kyi asked to stop briefly and got out of the car to greet them.
"I just wanted to tell her I wish her a long life," one worker said, showing appreciation for his 71-year-old leader, who also serves as Myanmar's foreign minister.
He offered her white orchids while others handed her coconuts.
Ms Suu Kyi thanked them, warmly shaking their hands which drew both smiles and tears from the workers.
Ms Suu Kyi's brief talk with the workers was later translated by a Myanmar interpreter who quoted her as saying that she asked them not to give up working hard and that they should wait for the day they can come back to Myanmar when "our home is ready".