In southern Thailand, day labourers can be seen working incredibly hard to fell rubber trees. These trees are a vital part of the local economy, producing furniture and other products, mostly in Hat Yai city. Many of the day labourers who are felling these trees come from impoverished backgrounds and are seeking work to support themselves and their families. Despite the physically demanding nature of the job, these workers display impressive stamina and dedication to their work. For their work in the old rubber plantations of the Thai deep south day labourers like these would earn around US$10 per day.
The economy in the Thai deep south has been shattered since a low intensity conflict erupted there in 2004. The conflict has affected all social classes, but it has hit the low income earners and the rural poor especially hard. Traditional sources of income in agriculture and fishing have all but dried up. Also the price of rubber has plummeted in the last decade leaving rubber plantations, such as this one, all but abandoned. With little or no chance of the rubber industry picking up in Thailand’s deep south plantation owner’s are left with little choice but to clear the land of their old rubber tress. The old rubber trees go on to be used in the furniture industry mostly in Yala city or as far away as Hat Yai city.