CNI News

7 August 2024

Because Myanmar MoU workers are allowed to return to their workplaces only when they can prove that they have already transferred money to their families in Myanmar, the MoU workers hardly come back to the Myanmar side on the border, overseas employment agencies told CNI News.

Myanmar workers working in Thailand with the MoU U-turn system who could show any evidence that they have already transferred 6,000 Baht equal to 25 percent of three month salaries to their families in Myanmar would be allowed to return to their workplaces, the directorate of labor has released.

" Myanmar MoU workers who went to Thailand with the U-turn system hardly come back. The number of workers we sent is about 30. They are finding it difficult to transfer money. Only if Myanmar labor officers on the Thai side provide service to make workers convenient, can the workers transfer money. If the officers don't accept this one or that one, the country can't get the tax. At present, Western Union Bank is being used. Although the prices of foreign currencies designated by the Myanmar government are much lower than the market prices, they will comply with the designation so that their livelihood will be convenient. But if there are difficulties, they can't transfer money." said U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Employment.

Myanmar migrant workers who were applying for necessary documents at an immigration department in Thailand

When Myanmar MoU workers who went to Thailand with the U-turn system come back to the MoU U-turn camps in Myawady and Kawthaung to renew, only if they must show any evidence that they have officially transferred money equal to 6,000 Baht, 25 percent of there basic salaries to their families in Myanmar, they would be allowed to return to their workplaces in Thailand, the directorate of labor of the Myanmar government released on 30th July, 2024.

Because Myanmar workers whose MoUs have expired didn't come back to Myanmar, although they didn't want to pay, they have to compulsorily pay, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Rights Foundation (LRF) told CNI News.

Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand

" When Myanmar migrant workers had to go to Thailand to work with the MoU U-turn system due to bad conditions of Myanmar, they can't overcome the strict policies of the Myanmar government. The workers can return to their workplaces in Thailand only if they can show any evidence that they have officially transferred 25 percent of their basic salary to their families and paid two percent of income tax. They know that they have to pay." he said.

Myanmar MoU workers have to get to the MoU U-turn camps on the Myanmar side before 12:30 pm to renew and documents describing that they have transferred money to their families must be prepared before coming to the U-turn camps to avoid unwanted delays, said in the statement.