CNI News

25 September 2024

Some Thai citizens demonstrated in front of the Myanmar Embassy in Bangkok to make the Myanmar migrants leave Thailand on 23rd September. 

They demonstrated the embassy to cope with the influx of Myanmar migrant workers into Thailand in multitude and it was the first time in Thailand, U Min Oo, In Charge of Labor Affairs of the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.

These problems emerged because there has been a sharp increase in the number of the Myanmar citizens who do the jobs that are designated for the Thai citizens only, he said.

" The demonstrators gave the embassy a letter in which they have mainly demanded to ask Myanmar migrants to go home and Myanmar people are robbing their jobs. They released a statement about two weeks ago that they would demonstrate like this. They point out that Myanmar migrant workers are doing the jobs that the Thai citizens will have to such as selling goods. Moreover, some Myanmar people sell goods online after advertising officially kind of, which, in fact, is not officially allowed." he said.

While some Thai citizens were demonstrating in front of the Myanmar Embassy

Not only Myanmar migrant workers but also Myanmar people who entered Thailand with other documents are doing the forbidden jobs and earning income. 

There has been an increase in the number of Myanmar people who has been doing the forbidden jobs since the last year and because the Thai citizens are not pleased with that, they complained about that to the Thai authorities reportedly.

These problems emerged because the Myanmar citizens did have no discipline, U Aung Kyaw from the Labor Right Foundation (LRF) told CNI News.

"It's all because our citizens had no discipline. We must watch our steps, the way we go or come or stay. Forbidden jobs for migrant workers have been imposed in the Thai laws. Our citizens want to be rich as soon as possible, so some of them break the law and do the forbidden jobs. Some have been doing the jobs for even 10 years. But if you keep a low profile, they won't mess with you. Moreover, our people are very keen on boasting. It's part of problem as well." he said.

Because the number of demonstrators was just a few, they might be from ultra-nationalist organizations, not from opposition parties. 

So, Myanmar migrants in Thailand should be more careful in their behavior for the time being, suggested those helping workers.