Three men stood trial in Wuhan, Hubei province, accused of finding work in China for illegal immigrants from Myanmar, Chutian Metropolis Daily reported.

From December 2012 to May 2013, 44 people from Myanmar found work illegally at an industrial park in Wuhan. To avoid checks by immigration officials, all of them said they came from ethic groups in Yunnan province.

The illegal workers mainly entered the mainland through Baoshan in Yunnan province and were later sent to work in Wuhan factories.

The three suspects all pleaded guilty and a verdict will be announced later.

The suspects came up with the idea when they saw other people making money from finding work illegally for foreigners in China. They cooperated with another person from Myanmar who helped to find potential recruits, the court heard.

The suspects charged a commission and the factories that hired the workers paid the suspects 8 to 11 yuan (about $1.30 to $1.80) per hour. However, the suspects paid the illegal workers only 6 to 8 yuan an hour.

The case was reported to police after the suspects failed to pay the illegal workers on time. Some of the workers staged a street demonstration in August 2013.

Police detained the three suspects and all 44 workers from Myanmar were repatriated.