Myanmar Migrant Workers

Rumours continue to emerge that the Myanmar government is becoming more strident over the treatment of its unregistered workers in Thailand – yet questions might still be asked about whether it is really doing enough to support its overseas workers.

The Thai government currently operates a scheme whereby foreign workers from the bordering countries of Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia can be registered as official for a fee – this, as can be imagined, appeals to some employers and deters others. However, according to this story from earthtimes:

“According the Thai Labour Ministry, 812,984 Burmese have registered under the programme, but only 80,435 have been approved by the Myanmar government. Thousands more have refused to apply for fear Myanmar authorities will extort money from their relatives at home.”

The story also deals with possible predation by the Democratic Karen Buddhist Army, which is claiming tolls from workers who have been deported from Thailand but who wish to return since the potential wages available are much higher than would be available across the border.

One advantage that the Burmese workers in Thailand do have (in addition to the numerous problems of exploitation, threats of violence and abuse and so forth) is that since there are so many they have developed some social solidarity and established some institutions to support their lifestyle: for example, to send money across the border, it is possible to visit a trusted and known house in Thailand or Burma and deposit the money there; a mobile phone call is placed to the counterpart in the other country and the person to whom the money is being transferred can take the cash directly (no doubt there is a fee involved). This is only possible when trust has been established in the system.