CNI News

2 August 2022

The Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN) told CNI that raising the basic wages of migrant workers including Myanmar in Thailand, from the current specified amount 320 Baht to 492 Baht, is being requested.

In that regard, it is known that MWRN cooperated with Thai Labour Solidarity Committee (TLSC), the National Labour Union League and the case has been submitted to the Thai Ministry of Labour.

U Bri from MWRN said, “The wage rise to 492 Baht has been demanded, with the intention that it would still be beneficial to the workers, even if only 10 Baht or 20 Baht is increased. In Thailand, as the prices of goods are on the rise, it becomes quite hard to stand with the daily wage of only 325 Baht. In addition to the wages not being excessive, it even becomes insufficient for a living. The reason why I say insufficient is that now it even costs 250 Baht for a kilo of pork and 280 Baht if it is meat only. In the past, the pork price is just around 130-140 Baht per kg. Here in Thailand, the rice price has increased, the oil price also becomes higher and everything regarding goods’ prices has gone up. As the prices surge day by day, it becomes difficult for the livelihood with the current daily wages.”

Although it is set that the basic wage of a worker in Thailand is about 320 Baht per day, there are still some workplaces where the workers cannot get the full pay of 320 Baht. And it is said that in some workplaces, there are also days that they do not have to work when the employers cannot afford to pay the wages to them due to the economic conditions.

Seeing a female worker from a seafood supply chain in Thailand

Ko Lay Nhyin who is working in Thailand said, “a person’s daily wage is 320 Baht, but it is not like we have to work every day, there are also days we do not have work, and that leads to the financial struggles. Besides, the accommodation costs, electricity charges, water costs are expensive. If we, Burmese people are not here in Thailand, it won’t have been easy for them in their works. If it is not 492 Baht, over 400 Baht for example, should be given as the basic daily wage. That is what we want to make a request to Thai authorities.”

Last June, the basic wage to the skilled workers from 16 jobs nationwide in Thailand was increased, but migrant workers including Myanmar did not include in it.

“The basic wage currently set might be enough for a worker’s expenditure, but there is no surplus,” U Bri from MWRN told CNI.

“Most of the migrant workers who come to Thailand have financial difficulties for the families while in their home country. Thus, when they come here, they have their parents, children, relatives who depend on them and they need to send the money, at least 2 lakhs to 3 lakhs per month to them for the sake of their children’s education and family’s livelihoods. So, in that case, it might be convenient for him for the living, but not for his children and family who stand with his income,” he said.

Temporary labor card (BAT-pink card) will be issued to illegal migrant workers working in Thailand starting from August 1 and it is said that workers will be recruited to solve the problem of the demand for labor and the illegal entry of the workers.

CNI News

2 August 2022

U Bri from MWRN told CNI that there was a fraud of over 80,000 Baht (over 4,000,000 MMK) from the Burmese people who are held in custody in Thailand Immigration Detention Centre in the south of Thailand, that person saying that she would help them release with 18,000 Baht (over 900,000 MMK) per person.

“Some of the relatives and acquaintances imprisoned here used to work in the construction site in Thailand. A Thai broker told them that she would make to release them all with 18,000 Baht per person and their parents transferred the money to her from Myanmar, the total amount is 81,000 Baht. That money hadn’t been gotten back yet. The people from the custody called me and asked for help. I have known that broker since a long time ago. She has been like that since before and there are so many people who got tricked by her,” he said.

When they call and ask that broker to give the money back, it is known that she told them to allow her some time until 9^th. Those who were detained are the ones who illegally entered Thailand. It is said that they are sent to the repatriation camp only after they have served their prison terms.

A place in the prison where migrant workers are being detained

Besides, it is also known that only those who bribe the Thai authorities with money are added to the repatriation list.

“Now some ask up to 6000-7000 Baht. If they don’t pay, they threatened like they will be imprisoned in the Din Nort Immigration Detention centre for 6 to 7 months and even up to 8 months, like that. And, they asked for the phone numbers of parents in Myanmar, called and told them like if the money is sent today, then 6000 Baht is the deal and if tomorrow, the deal price will be 7000 Baht. So, as parents feel anxious about their children, they borrowed money with every little possession they own and sent the money. Actually, in the legal way, those held in the prison do not need to pay travel expenses. According to Thailand’s law, they can be sent back to the border with the government’s budget,” he said.

It was reported that Thai authorities and interpreters joined hands together to ask for the money from the people who were in prisons, and the travel cost does not even cost 1,000 Baht per person.

CNI News

1 August 2022

Chairman of State Administration Council Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said plans were underway to meet with a delegation of the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army, an ethnic armed group which has not joined recent negotiations, for peace talks soon.

The SAC chairman announced the plan in his speech delivered to the public at the end of 18 months’ term of the SAC on 1st August morning.

The SAC already held negotiations with nine EAOs and the second round of talks was in the pipeline, the SAC chairman said.

The NSPNC of the Tatmadaw and a SSPP delegation hold talks on 31 March, 2022.

He said, “Ten EAOs including seven signatories to the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement and three non-signatories informed us that they would join peace talks. Now, we have met with nine EAOs and we will hold talks with the remaining EAO soon. Plans are underway to hold the second round of talks with EAOs, which we have already met. During the negotiations, we frankly discussed the implementation of the multi-party democracy system in accordance with the will of the people, building the union based on democracy and federalism, the actual needs for regions and the country and wants and shoulds.”

Tensions between the Tatmadaw and the SSPP were high when the former asked the latter to withdraw three camps in Monghsu Township in Shan State (South) and  talks were delayed.

The SAC and the SSPP will hold negotiations in the first week of August, according to diplomatic sources.

However, the reports could not be verified independently since the SSPP did not answer the phone calls for comments.

A map showing the locations of three SSPP camps from which the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw.

The SAC chairman previously said that the year 2022 had been designated as the peace year and efforts would be exerted to end armed conflicts in the entire country.

Then, signatories to the NCA including the Shan State Restoration Council/Shan State Army, the New Mon State Party, the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army, the Arakan Liberation Army, the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army (Peace Council) and the Pao National Liberation Organization held talks with the SAC.

Non-signatories to the NCA that joined the talks with the SAC included the United Wa State Army and National Democratic Alliance Army (Mongla).

CNI News

1 August 2022

Shanni Youth Network in Hpakant Township issued a statement strongly condemning the beating and abduction of its member Sai Yay Kyaw, who lived in Hongpar Village, Hpakant Township in Mohnyin District by an identified armed group.

Sai Yay Kyaw was fetching his wife in Nantparhoke Village when an armed group in two Pajeros beat and abducted him in the back of a car, according to the statement.

Sai Yay Kyaw is a famous instructor of singing, dances and music for the promotion of Shanni literature and culture as well as a member of the Red Cross Society.

The statement strongly condemned the unlawful abduction of him.

Sai Yay Kyaw and friends.

Frequent abductions, torture and killings of Shanni ethnic members and activists by armed groups amount to violation of human rights and an attempt to instigate ethnic conflicts, the statement says.

The youth network also called for the unidentified armed group to release Sai Yay Kyaw immediately without any harm.

Similarly, an unidentified armed group shot and killed U Than Pe, a patron of Shanni Literature and Culture Committee at his house in Hongpar Village in Hpakant Township on 25th June, 2022.

Vice Chairman of Shanni Youth Network Sai Kyan Aung (a) Sai Sei Lai was arrested by the PDF on 15th June, 2022 but he was released on 24th June after Shanni and Shan civil society groups and Shanni political parties called for his release.

CNI News

1 Augsut 2022

Thai Baht and Japanese Yen saw brisk sales at money exchange counters in Yangon recently.

Most buyers were people preparing to go to work or study abroad.

“More people are buying Thai Baht. People who are preparing to go to Japan are buying Japanese Yen. Most of them are youths who are preparing to go to these countries. The sale of other foreign currencies like the Malay Ringgit is rare because people here are not going to other countries currently. As a retailer, we sell small amounts of Baht between 10,000 and 20,000 Baht to a buyer. The US$ trading is stagnant because no one wants to trade it according to designated prices, said a staff member from Khaing Money Exchange. (The name has been changed.)

When US$ are sold at money exchange counters, it is traded at designated prices of the Central Bank of Myanmar. So, no one sold US$ to money exchange counters.

Although the CBM set the price of US$ at a fixed price, the prices of US$ in the market are unstable and rose to as much as MMK 2,500 per US$ on 29th July.

Myat Money Exchange Counter (The name has been changed.) said, “That is what is happening in the market. If there are sellers of US$ to us at the official exchange rate, we buy and sell the same amount to buyers at the government approved rates. If there is no one who sells US$ to us at the official rate, we explain to buyers thoroughly that there are few people who trade US$ at the official rate. Trading US$ has halted and we have only a little work to do.”

As only a few people sell US$ at money exchange counters recently, the counters have halted their operations due to shortages of US$.

Aye Money Exchange Counter (The name has been changed.) said, “We temporarily halted currency trading due to price instabilities. No one come to us to sell US$ at the official exchange rate. We are allowed to buy US$ only at the official rate. So, people do not come to us to sell their US$.”

Currently, the MMK has depreciated against foreign currencies and prices of foreign currencies like US$, Baht, Yuan are rising against the MMK, pushing commodity prices up in the market.

Furthermore, those who are trying to work abroad are also incurring more costs, according to overseas employment agencies.

CNI News

1 Augsut 2022

After the executions of four activists including Ko Jimmy, resistance forces have rejected the democratic political exits rolled out by the chairman of the SAC, Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI.

SAC Chairman Senior General Min Aung Hlaing said at the SAC meeting held on 29 July that the SAC carried out tasks in accordance with the constitution and democratic political exits had been rolled out.

Political Analyst U Than Soe Naing told the CNI, “After the executions of four activists including Ko Jimmy, the public and the opposition against the SAC seemed to categorically decided that there is nothing to negotiate in blood debts as they vowed previously. So, I think that the time has arrived when the political forces are not interested in the political exits and elections rolled out by the SAC.”

An SAC meeting.

The SAC chairman said that the Tatmadaw has to assume state responsibilities in accordance with the constitution due to political instabilities caused by the results of the 2020 multi-party democracy elections.

The SAC chairman said, “The Tatmadaw had to assume state responsibilities in line with the constitution due to political instabilities caused by the results of the 2020 multi-party democracy general election. The Tatmadaw is performing its duties in accordance with the constitution as much as possible while rolling out political exits. Except for instigating instabilities, conferences and meetings of political parties as well as those between them have been permitted and democratic political exits have been offered.”

 A conference of the SNLD in progress.

However, the chairman did not elaborate on circumstances in which political parties were allowed to hold meetings and conferences.

The Mon Unity Party held its conference from 18th to 20 March, 2020 while the conference of the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy took place on 26th and 27th May.

Myanmar has been in a political crisis and armed conflicts are raging in the entire country, leaving more than one million people displaced, according to the United Nations.

CNI News

1 August 2022

It is understood that the Tatmadaw had asked the Shan State Progressive Party/Shan State Army to withdraw from their three camps over security concerns, General Secretary Sai Leik of the SNLD told the CNI.

The Tatmadaw was not satisfied with the relations between the SSPP and the United Wa State Army and it was possible that the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw camps on the Sanin mountain range, he added.

Sai Leik told the CNI, “ The problem at Mong Hsu and Tangyan is not the one that arose recently. It started in June, when the Tatmadaw was not satisfied with the relations between the SSPP and the UWSA, as far as I know. The alliance of the SSPP and the UWSA has controlled Shan State (South) including Panglong area and Phalaing and Mong Pyin to the west of Sanin Mountain, providing easy access to Kyauk Gu, Indaw which is adjacent to Lawksawk, that is too close to security lines of the Tatmadaw. So, it asked the SSPP to withdraw from the three camps in Monghsu. In my opinion, if the SSPP withdraws its troops in the western part of Panglong because it cannot withdraw from the three camps, the issue can be solved.”

The map of locations of the SSPP camps, from which the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw their troops.

The SSPP replied on 22 July that they could not withdraw troops from the three camps.

The most appropriate solution to the political crisis is the complete withdrawal from politics and ceasefire in the entire country and remaining issues can be solved through negotiations, Sai Leik added.

However, Director U Thein Tun Oo of Strategic Studies told the CNI that the Tatmadaw needed to solve security issues first and was likely to respond to regional instabilities.

U Thein Tu Oo said, “Security issues are priorities that the Tatmadaw has focused on. It doesn’t matter whether the SSPP cooperates with the UWSA or not, the main issue is that if the camps threaten the stability and security of the areas, the Tatmadaw is likely to respond to the issue. It is difficult to comment on the relations between the two EAOs because I don’t know the nature of their relations in detail. However, it is more likely that the Tatmadaw is responding to military threats and regional instabilities.”

Tatmadaw and SSPP representatives hold negotiations on 14th July, 2022.

The Tatmadaw sent a letter to SSPP on 4th July to withdraw three SSPP camps active in Loinoi and Manwain in Monghsu Township by 10th June and another letter to do so by 30th June but the SSPP refused the retreat from the areas.

As the situation remained tense, representatives of both sides met for negotiations on 14 July but the Tatmadaw asked the SSPP to withdraw the camps within seven days. The SSPP has sent a letter, refusing to withdraw its troops.

CNI News

30 July 2022

As Thailand has planned to employ Myanmar workers to solve labour shortages and issues of illegal workers, measures are being taken to send Myanmar workers to Thailand, labour activists told the CNI.

Thailand currently needs 500,000 foreign workers and plans are underway to employ workers from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. As Thailand has planned to employ the largest number of Myanmar workers, measures are being taken to send Myanmar workers.

The kingdom will employ foreign workers under the existing MOU system as well as the border pass system and issuing temporary work permits (Baht pink card) to illegal workers, U Min Oo, a labour activist from FED.

U Min Oo said, “It is true that they have approved the plan but they haven’t issued a statement about it. They haven’t announced the date to implement the plan. They said they would give priority to the MOU system and then would allow people from ten border provinces to apply for border passes under section 64 to work in Thailand. However, it will be difficult for them to employ 500,000 foreign workers. Even now we have been able to send only tens of thousands of Myanmar workers. I think they will have to issue official permits to illegal workers.”

A Baht pink card. (KIC)

Thai authorities rarely issue Baht pink cards but illegal workers should try to receive those cards, which guarantee full labour rights, Executive Director U Htoo Chit told the CNI.

U Htoo Chit said, “Situations are different from one province to another. Migrant workers can earn a basic salary of Baht 320 to 340. It also depends on skills and types of job. Most importantly, they can enjoy the benefits of social security funds. They will be able to change jobs if they do not like their current jobs. They will be able to enjoy full labour rights. Pink card holders can enjoy the same rights as MOU workers.”

Thailand has planned to employ more than one million foreign workers by 13 February 2025 and pink card holders, who are required to renew their cards once a year,  are also included under the scheme.

CNI News

30 July 2022

Trishaw operators in Thingangyum Township in Yangon Region have begun installing electric systems on their trishaws to transport passengers.

Since electric trishaws could reduce the use of physical strength and increase incomes, operators started installing electric systems on the trishaws, Ko Than Cho, a trishaw operator in Thingangyun Township told the CNI.

Ko Than Cho said, “We use electric bicycles for our trishaw because they can reduce the use of physical strength. We have to use physical strength daily. So, we are very tired and we cannot earn much. Now, we can make more money because electric trishaws reduce the use of physical strength and are three times as fast as pedal trishaws.

An electric trishaw operator and a pedal trishaw operator.

It cost MMK 300,000 to install the electric system on a trishaw previously but the cost increased to as much as MMK 470,000 recently.

Electric trishaws were introduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of electric trishaws has increased gradually. Now, there are at least three trishaws at a trishaw stand.

However, pedal trishaw operators who cannot afford to install the electric system see their incomes drop due to their electric rivals, said U Kyaw Myint, a pedal trishaw operator.

He said, “Whether to install the electric system or not depends on investment because it costs as much as MMK 700,000 to do so. I don’t have that much money and I have to pedal my trishaw as much as my physical strength allows me. When they have completed three trips, we can make only one trip. Passengers also want to get to their destinations faster. We are old and very slow. So, passengers prefer electric trishaws.”

A trishaw installed with the electric system.

There are more than 100 electric trishaws in Thingangyun Township, especially near Nga Moe Yeik and Sanpya Market wards.

Licenses have been issued for pedal trishaws by the Yangon City Development Committee, which haven’t issued licenses to electric trishaws.

However, action is not taken against electric trishaw operators because they follow traffic rules like their pedal counterparts.