CNI News

30 April 2024

The Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies sending MoU workers to Thailand by Yangon-Don Muang flight were not allowed to buy air tickets and visas, but an assigned company had to purchase them, the agencies told CNI News.

A worker must pay 145 dollars for an air ticket and service. However, because the cost has not been released separately, it was costlier than that they bought themselves, pointed out overseas employment agencies.

" 145 dollars has been designated to buy an air ticket and service for a worker. But we are not allowed to buy ourselves. The company that has been assigned are allowed to buy them. It's very costly. Agencies want to know how much the service fee is. A visa is paid 1,300 bahts. the Thai agencies have to take the responsibility for the visa. We are not allowed to apply for the visa ourselves. The service to get a visa is paid 800 bahts, I heard. I don't know why." said an official from an overseas employment agency to CNI News.

MOU workers going to Thailand would be sent from Yangon-Don Maung Airport starting from 29th April, and sending MoU workers by MAI and MNA airlines only would be allowed starting from 11th May, the Directorate of Labor stated.

Although CNI News phoned and asked the Migrant Worker Branch of the directorate to know more exactly about the air ticket and service fees, it made no answer.

While seeing Myanmar migrant workers

In sending workers to Malaysia or sending MoU workers to Thailand by Yangon-Don Muang flight, agencies were allowed to buy air tickets in the past.

However, agencies are not allowed to buy air tickets themselves any more since the Yangon-Don Muang flight was officially designated to send MoU workers reportedly. So, if overseas employment agencies were allowed to buy air tickets and visas, the cost could be reduced a little for workers, U Min Oo, In Charge of Labor Affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED), told CNI News.

" Because an assigned company only are allowed to buy air ticket and service, it's unjust a bit. The cost has gone higher. If the cost for the air ticket and service was higher, it wouldn't be convenient for workers." he said.

Myanmar MoU workers were regularly sent from the Myawaddy-Mae Sot No.1 Friendship Bridge in the past and there were camps that welcomed the workers in Mae Sot. However, because the MoU workers would be sent by Yangon-Don Muang flight starting from 29th April, the camps that welcome the workers would be transferred to Don Muang reportedly.