CNI News
1 Nov 2022
The Kawthaung-Ranong route or flights should be used instead of the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route in sending workers from Myanmar to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries, labour activists for Myanmar workers told the CNI.
Workers should not be sent from the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route because of the security situation along the route and taking alternative routes will be able to overcome such threats.
Labour Activist U Min Oo of the FED told the CNI, “Flights are the most convenient way to send workers to Thailand within a short time. If workers are to be sent from the Kawthaung-Ranong route, they will have to take domestic flights to Kawthaung and cross the border into Thailand by boat. So, the route is not as convenient as flights to send a large number of workers. The advantage of using the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is that a large number of workers can be sent by cars from No (2) bridge. Currently only a few workers come from the Kawthaung-Ranong route. I think agencies can send workers from the route and it will not cost much more. However, they will have to use roads and the waterway and it is difficult to send a large number of workers.”
Myanmar workers preparing to travel to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries.
Although agencies are sending workers by plane or from the Kawthaung-Ranong route, the number of workers who took the routes is fewer compared to that of the Myawaddy route.
If alternative routes are to be used, agencies are likely to charge more service fees from workers and the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is the most appropriate route for sending workers, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.
He said, “The Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is the most convenient route because it is easy for authorities to check their documents. Agencies can also send the workers from the Kawthaung-Ranong route but the problem is that they will have to travel a long way to get to their worksites. We need to take this into consideration. The Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is much nearer to their worksites than the Kawthaung-Ranong route.”
Although the Myawaddy-Mae Sot route is the most convenient route for sending workers to Thailand, it is necessary to take extra heed than before due to the deteriorating security situation in the area, Ko Thar Gyi added.
He told the CNI, “Agencies need to take extra heed until their workers arrive in Myawaddy. If agencies carefully listen to conflict news and send workers to Thailand, it will be safer for them. Thailand authorities including immigration, labour and health officials have already arranged for the workers to come from Myawaddy. So, they need to take extra heed for unpredictable dangers along the route until they arrive in Myawaddy.”
A checkpoint for Myanmar workers in Thailand.
Fighting erupted along the Myawaddy-Kawkareik road section of the Asia Highway on 18th October and MOU workers were stranded due to temporary closures of the highway but the road was reopened on 21st October.
The Kawthoolei Army issued a statement on 26th October, prohibiting travels along the road section without its permission.
The statement warned of travelling along the road section due to escalation of military tensions between the junta and its forces.
Despite the tensions, some vehicles and agencies are still using the road to send workers to Thailand.
