CNI News
24 November, 2023
Although Myanmar Ministry of Labor has directed to the agencies sending Myanmar workers abroad to go and resolve the workplace problems of Myanmar migrant workers within 30 days, the agencies did not come to solve the problems.
The agencies tend to come and solve the big problems only that are written about on social media and largely don't solve the problems that are not posted on social media, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.
" For example, the case of over 230 that took place at La Yaung a few days ago. They asked for help. But relevant agencies didn't solve the problem. At last they got into trouble. To the best of my knowledge, most agencies don't solve. But it depends on the situation. if the problem with many workers is widely known among the public, the agencies concerned tend to come and solve. If the problem with one or two workers, the workers get into trouble badly. If the problem is not serious or is not posted on social media, the agencies largely don't solve the problem." said U Min Oo.
While labor officers were meeting with the labors from a construction site
Myanmar MoU workers are mainly facing with no consistence with the workplaces or employers that have been designated or being underpaid.
Some agencies come and solve by changing workplace within less than 30 days and others have evaded reportedly.
Although MoU workers can ask help from the labor officer from the embassy when the agencies concerned don't solve the problem, they tend to solve the problem with the help of the organizations that assist for the labor affairs because they are hesitant or unable to contact with the officer reportedly.
" When the workers called to the embassy to complain, the office might not answer the phone. Sometimes, the office asked which agency and told they would let the agency know. In order to help the workers effectively, ministry and labor officers need to comply with the law. If the agencies don't solve the problem within the period designated, they should be blacklisted at all." said Ko Thar Gyi, a person helping migrant workers.
While an agency official was meeting with workers
Although the Ministry of Labor has directed to the agencies sending Myanmar workers abroad to go and resolve the workplace problems of Myanmar migrant workers within 30 days, the agencies don't solve the problem. It is because of weak taking action, those helping workers pointed out.
If labor problems or special events occurred, the agencies needed to report to the officials concerned and would have to cooperate with labor officers real time, which the ministry has directed.
At present, the ministry has blacklisted 126 Thai companies, 20 Thai agencies and 125 Thai citizens Thai that violated labor rights.
