More than 5,300 Myanmar migrant workers have returned from China via Nandaw border checkpoint over the last 27 days as they face employment difficulties during a long lockdown period in Ruili.

With the coronavirus resurgence and lockdown period in Chinese towns such as Ruili and Kyel Gaung, Myanmar migrant workers there reported their difficulties to Muse-Ruili-Kyel Gaung social organizations. Then followed hand-overs of the Myanmar citizens under the agreement between authorities of both countries.

Myanmar migrant workers from China were re-accepted at Nandaw border checkpoint from July 26 to August 21, according to the Humanitarian Assistance Network (Muse).

“After coordination between officials from the two countries, Myanmar accepted their entry back. We welcomed back 235 men and 226 women totalling 461 on August 21. Till today (August 21) we accepted 5,335 Myanmar citizens—2,778 men and 2,557 women. Tomorrow also, there will be more returnees if the Chinese side hands them over,” said Ko Htay, chairman of the Humanitarian Assistance Network (Muse).

The re-acceptance of Myanmar migrant workers depends on China’s arrangements to send them back, according to the re-acceptance team in Myanmar.

“We always welcome back and accept our citizens. If Chinese authorities allow, we accept them and arrange transport of them to their native places,” said a team member.

From July 26 to August 10, 4,654 Myanmar migrant workers returned from China. Then, China suspended sending back workers on August 11.

But after bilateral coordination, 220 were allowed to reenter Myanmar on August 16. Again after bilateral agreement, China allowed returnees on August 21 and handed over 461 Myanmar workers.

There are still thousands of Myanmar migrant workers in China wishing to return home.