Over 234,000 MoU workers leave for Thailand last year

Over 234,000 MoU workers leave for Thailand last year
Published 12 January 2020

 

Myanmar dispatched over 234,000 MoU workers to Thailand last year, according to the Labour Department.

The number of MoU workers has increased though the factories faced the shutdowns due to the market restrictions caused by the violations of human rights in the marine product factories in Thailand. Due to the shutdown of factories, some Myanmar migrant workers become jobless and go home.

The number of MoU workers who left for Thailand reached 31,828 in 2014, 52,765 in 2015, 97,998 in 2016, 145,161 in 2017 and over 150,000 in 2018.

U Moe Kyaw, head of YaungchiOo Labour Affairs Office said: “There are more than 400 factories and plants in Mae Sot. In addition to the factories, more than 250,000 Myanmar migrant workers are working in construction sites, farming, housemaid services and shops. Thai government has fixed 310 baht for a eight-hour working day in Mae Sot. Myanmar migrant workers from around five factories earn their salaries fully. But Myanmar migrant workers from other factories and work sites get 150-200 baht only. They also face the violations in health and social affairs.”

Myanmar workers migrant mostly to Thailand with more than four million workers.

On average, Myanmar officially sends 800-1000 MoU workers to Thailand via Myawady border gate a day. But many workers return to Myanmar as some job agencies do not send them to the worksites agreed under the contract.