CNI News

19 Jan 2023

The reopening of Myawady-Mae Sot No. (1) Friendship Bridge, which was closed due to COVID-19, has brought more benefits for Thailand, Thailand-based labour activists told the CNI.

Although the bridge has been reopened since 12th January, 2023, only a few people from Myanmar visited Thailand on day return trips while only a small number of Myanmar migrant workers returned through the bridge.

Ko Thar Gyi, who has been helping Myanmar migrant workers, told the CNI, " Myanmar authorities do not receive as much visa fee as their Thai counterparts because Thailand has raised border pass fees from Baht 20 to Baht 60. And when a Myanmar migrant return to Myanmar through the bridge, Thai visa authorities collect Baht 1,000 (more than MMK 80,000) per person to stamp their seals on returnees' passports. All these are revenues for the Thai government. In addition, Thai immigration authorities asked for Baht 100 to 200 per person on the bridge illegally. There are more than 5 million Myanmar nationals who hold Thai visas officially. Reopening the bridge is beneficial for the grassroots and the two governments but this brings more benefits for Thailand."

Scenes on the No (1) Myawady-Mae Sot friendship bridge.

Thanks to the reopening of the bridge, it is easier for Myanmar migrant workers who want to return to Myanmar and those who want to work in Thailand as daily earners to travel to and fro Thailand.

Before the closures of the bridge, Myanmar migrant workers used to return to Myanmar in hundreds but only a few of them have returned so far due to security reasons.

Advisor U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Rights Network told the CNI, "The aim of reopening the bridge is not to help migrant workers but to facilitate border trade. As the bridge was closed for three years, both countries lost millions of US dollars. So, the two government tried to reopen the bridge. However, migrant workers who want to return to Myanmar officially can go home through the bridge. So, workers welcomed the move but they are worried about the security situation because of the armed conflicts on the side of Myanmar."

As security measures are being taken properly in Thailand, Myanmar authorities should follow suit, Thailand-based labour activists said.

So far, the bridge has been reopened for only a few days and small vehicles and passengers are allowed to pass the bridge. Freight trucks have not been allowed to pass through the bridge.

Border trade will gradually improve gradually and the Myanmar currency is likely to appreciate against Baht.

Border trade between the two countries hit Baht 100 trillion per month until 2019 before the outbreak of COVID-19, according to statistics of the Ministry of Commerce.