CNI News
11 Feb 2023
A majority of Myanmar workers who went to work under the MOU between the two countries in 2022 have been exploited and lost their labour rights, labour activists in Thailand told the CNI.
Most of them are subject to being employed in jobs that are not stated in their contracts, denying the rights to keep their own documents by themselves, sacking without sound reasons, losses of salaries and compensations for workplace injuries.
Taking advantage of the instability in Myanmar, unscrupulous persons are exploiting Myanmar MOU workers, Labour Activist Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI.
He said, "Exploitation mainly refers to denying workers their salaries. However, abusing the rights of workers amounts to violation of the law. They are exploiting the rights of workers. When an MOU worker comes to Thailand, he or she has to pay Baht 1,000 for social security fees. So, they must be sent to the clinic when he or she is ill. They are entitled to receive treatments in Thailand as soon as they arrive in Thailand. Moreover, they have bought health insurance policies to receive treatments at government hospitals. The Thai government knows all these and that the military junta in Myanmar will not pressure on such issues. As there are many serious problems in Myanmar, labour issues are not taken seriously by government agencies."
Myanmar workers.
In sending MOU workers to Thailand, some agencies are sending more workers than employers have requested and asking for quitting fees from workers who leave jobs because they are not employed in jobs that are not stated in their contracts.
Executive Director U Htoo Chit from the Foundation for Education and Development told the CNI, "In principle, employers are required to issue job quitting permits if they cannot employ their workers in jobs stated in their contracts. Some companies issue such permits but others ask for job-quitting fees from workers. Therefore, it is very difficult for workers because they cannot seek jobs for other employers without the permit. As a result, they have become illegal migrant workers."
Overseas employment agencies play an important role in exploitation of MOU workers and workers are required to scrutinize their agencies thoroughly before they are sent to Thailand, according to labour activists in Thailand.
Moreover, responsible officials from the Myanmar embassy in Thailand take effective measures to protect the rights of workers when workers stage protests, they said.
Myanmar workers in front of the Myanmar embassy in Thailand.
Ko Thar Gyi told the CNI, "Responsible officials from the embassy seek compensation when Myanmar workers die and have been incinerated to save face for themselves in front of the bereft families. Myanmar labour attaches rarely offer assistance to Myanmar workers on the ground. That is why, labour activists including me, private organizations and other Myanmar people have to offer assistance to workers who are in trouble. This indicates the labour ministry of our country is corrupted and is seeking self-interests."
Labour activists based in Thailand said workers would not face exploitation if labour officials at the embassy handled labour issues seriously.
The Ministry of Labour of Myanmar resumed sending workers to Thailand under the MOU between the two countries in May, 2022 and has sent about 100,000 workers to the neighbouring country so far.
