Chinese authorities have arrested more than 100 Myanmar nationals working illegally in Chinese border towns, as more young people head across the border to escape a dearth of job opportunities and fighting in war-torn Shan state, RFA reported.

About 40 are ethnic Ta’ang youths from Namhsan and Hsipaw (also known as Thibaw) townships who were picked up in the Chinese towns of Ruili and Mengxiuxiang on Nov. 25 and 26, Mine Myo Aung from the Ta’ang Legal Assistance Organization told RFA’s Myanmar Service.

The laborers must pay about 100 yuan (U.S. $14) for weekly Chinese work permits as masons and sugar cane plantation workers, he said.

Authorities arrested the Myanmar nationals when they failed to renew their weekly permits because their jobs were located outside major towns where they had to go to pay their fee and get a new document, he said.