Authorities will allow illegal Myanmar migrant workers from Thailand to come back via Friendship Bridge, sources said.
The authorities officially shut down reception center in Kyauklonegyi Road in Myawady on December 1 2018 and the migrant workers came back from Thailand via Kothonelone quay. Now the authorities are planning to allow the use the Friendship Bridge to prevent unnecessary problems, said Htay Kyaw, Deputy District Administrator of Myawady District.
“According to Labour Relations Act, Thai officials detained Myanmar migrant workers and Myanmar opened the reception center from June 29 2017 to December 1 2018 to welcome them. After the reception center was closed, Myanmar migrant workers returned to Myanmar via Kothonelone quay and the authorities are worried about illegal entry of Bengalis and saboteurs. So the authorities requested the government to allow the migrant workers to return via Friendship Bridge and the government allowed it on January 29. There are no authorities to check the migrant workers at Kothonelone quay. The respective authorities are present at the bridge and problems will not be occurred,” said Htay Kyaw.
The illegal Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand returned to Myanmar as they are worried about the arrest made by Thai authorities due to newly imposed employment and labour law in Thailand.
A total of 119,037 Myanmar migrant workers are returned to Myanmar since July 30 2017 till at the end of December 2018. A total of 3,200 Myanmar migrant workers entered through Kothonelone quay.
