A dead body, presumed to be a Burmese migrant worker, washed up on the holiday island of Phuket on Sunday, according to Thai media reports.

Citing local police, the Manager Online reported that the body of a man dressed in a black long-sleeved shirt and blue trousers was found in the water near Rassada pier. Police said he may have been dead for about 15 days and was barely recognisable.

Based on a tattoo on his right arm and his clothing, police are working on the assumption that he is a Burmese national, possibly a fishing boat worker, and they speculate he may have been killed in a fight with other crewmembers on his boat and dumped at sea.

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The body was taken to Phuket hospital for autopsy.

Thousands of Burmese work on Thai fishing boats in an industry that human rights groups have likened to slavery.

In May 2015, Thai authorities began issuing labour ID cards to migrant workers within its fishing industry following heavy criticism for inaction against rampant human trafficking in the trade.