Myanmar migrant workers who will be sent to Thailand as MoU workers have been allowed to travel by air, announced the Department of Labour.

Due to the fighting and the situation where access to the new Asian road over Dona Taungkyaw is still closed, the permission to send them on a flight like this means that the road safety and air travel for the workers is positive from all sides, said Joint Action Committee for Burmese Affairs (JACBA) chairman U Moe Gyo, who is working on labour affairs.

"It should have been like this for a long time. Now, due to the border war and the road travel situation, using the plane is more secure, smart and reliable than Myawady-Mae Sot Road and Kawthoung-Ranong Road travel plans. In addition to the comfort when entering the workplace, the airline is on the positive side. We want to encourage Myanmar's Ministry of Labour to consider how to take measures to make the MoU workers comfortable with the recognition and respect that they are greatly benefiting the mother country with their wages, taxes, to assist in a timely manner in the event of security, welfare, not getting wages at work and a layoffs. We want to emphasize that they are the people who are paying taxes for the motherland, and to take care and protect them," said JACBA Chairman U Moe Gyo.

The Ministry of Labour has allowed Myanmar workers to be sent to Thailand as MoU workers by plane, but it is difficult because of the rising price of plane tickets. An official of an overseas employment agency said that they do not want to collect more money from the workers and plan to transport them by water along the Kawthoung-Ranong-Bangkok road.

"Even though the MoU allows workers to be transported by air, they cannot be transported due to the difficulties of the high cost of flights. Since the workers will have to spend more money, we are thinking about a route by ship that will cost less. At this time, Myawady Dona Taungkyaw Road is also difficult to access. As the Asian road is still closed, there are delays in sending workers," said an official of an agency.

If the MoU workers are to be transported by air, they will go to Don Mueang Airport in Thailand via Yangon Airport. After arriving at the airport and conducting the necessary tests, they will be transported to the relevant workplaces.