CNI News

10 February 2025

Because Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand has been appointed to Labor Minister, Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand might be tightened more, those who are carrying out the issue of migrant workers told CNI News. 

Labor Minister U Myint Naung who was in service for over one year was retired at the time when the tenure of Chairman of the State Administration Council was extended for another six months and he was replaced with Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand, U Chit Swe.

Because U Chit Swe U Chit Swe served as Myanmar's ambassador to Thailand, he is well-versed in labor issues in Thailand. So, it might get worse for Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, U Min Oo who is helping migrant workers, told CNI News. 

" He knows the situation on the Thai side. And he also has contacts with Thai authorities. So, he can negotiate and carry out in some cases. That is to say, it could get worse for Myanmar migrant workers. He will surely tighten the workers. Because he has already known the situation on the Thai side. In some cases, he has become more skilled at how to negotiate with workers." said U Min Oo.

While seeing migrant workers

U Chit Swe was appointed to Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand at the time when the SAC was extended for another six months in June 2022. When the SAC was extended for another six months on 31st January 2025, he was appointed to Labor Minister.

It was reviewed that U Chit Swe is more skilled in the labor issue after which he was appointed to Labor Minister; however, it was unlikely to have a good prospect in the labor issue, U Aung Kyaw who is helping the migrant labor issue, told CNI News.

" We have never heard that an ambassador who has been appointed in a foreign country is appointed to a minister. The SAC seems to consider him to be more skilled in the labor issue. But in our opinion, as an ambassador, he had not work hard in the labor issue." said U Aung Kyaw.

Contracts for overseas employment for men between the ages of 18 and 35, the age limit to do a military job, have been suspended indefinitely starting from 31st January 2025.

Population decline may impact local labor force and elections, said Chairman of the SAC at a meeting held in Naypyidaw on 17th January 2025.

And then, bylaws of the People's Military Service Law arose on 23rd January 2025 and according to Section 51 of the bylaw, a person who receives a call-up order for military service is not allowed to travel abroad without permission from the Central Military Recruitment Board.