In the port of Yangon, young men, in search of work, rush the boats as they come in to dock. In the sweltering heat, they lug sacks of rice – weighing up to 50 kilos – from the bowels of the boats to waiting trucks. It is back-breaking, hard labour. For every sack carried, they are given a tally stick. When there are no more rice sacks left to be lifted, a paymaster pays them a pittance for their handful of sticks . . .