CNI News
8 August 2023
While there have been increasingly unstable in Thailand due to political turmoil and protests there, Myanmar workers had better not change their workplaces, those who are helping Myanmar migrant workers said to CNI News.
Although a general election was held in Thailand in May, a Prime Minister and a new government have not yet been appointed up to now. Moreover, Thai people's protest against the Pheu Thai Party is also strong.
Not knowing how the current situation would be changed, Myanmar migrant workers had better not change their workplaces before a new Thai government was formed, said U Aung Kyaw, an official from the Labor Rights Foundation to CNI News.
Demonstrations relating to the position of Prime Minister were being held in Thailand (photo-Getty Images)
" Thai economy is not doing very well right now. If you apply for a new job, it will not be accepted easily. A lot of workers are not needed there. So, it may be difficult if a new job is applied. At a time when Thailand's political situation is complicated, Myanmar workers will need to go on working in their current workplaces, that I want to advice. Because the employers are working with existing workers without much change at present, workers shouldn't think about changing their jobs at all." he said.
Although the election of a Thai Prime Minister by vote was scheduled to hold on 4th August, Wan Muhamad Noor Matha, Speaker of the House of Representatives canceled the schedule on 3rd August.
The parliament's ban on the nomination of Pita Limjaroenrat, leader of the Move Forward Party that won the most seats in the election for the post of Prime Minister - whether it is constitutional or not will be considered.
So, the election of a Prime Minister has been put off. Moreover, the Pheu Thai Party that won second most seats in the election parted way with the MFP and expelled the MFP from the coalition on 2nd August, which the MFP supporters were not satisfied with and protested against it.
Although not changing workplace was the best for these reasons, if there were rights violations in workplace, the workplace should be changed, said Ko Naing Naing Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization to CNI News.
Some members of the Pheu Thai Party (photo-Getty Images)
" You need to look back at the documents you have hold whether you can change your job or not. If you can, you must go to a better place. It's no problem. If your rights were violated, not safe and dangerous to your life at the place where you are working, it would be the best for you to change your workplace." he said.
Illegal migrant workers in Thailand were asked to nominate until the end of July and those who have been nominated are allowed to live until the end of August reportedly. Because the policies relating to migrant workers can be laid down only when a new government is formed, Thai businessmen are also expecting the stakeholders to form a new government as soon as possible.
There are demands to form the government within a month. There are over two million migrant workers including Myanmar workers in Thailand until February 2023 and several million illegal migrant workers there reportedly.
