The number of Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia committed suicide has increased within four month period and now it reached to 17 according to Myanmar civil society group based in Malaysia.

There are thousands of undocumented Myanmar Migrant workers in Malaysia who faced hardship due to loss of their jobs in the COVID-19 pandemic. Immigration crackdown and travel restrictions imposed in Malaysia.

“As Myanmar workers lost their jobs, they no longer could afford to rent apartments and for basic needs. That’s why they committed suicide,” said San Win, chairman of Myanmar civil society group helping migrant workers.

Government should arrange those desires to come back Myanmar through border routes according to civil society groups in Malaysia. The Myanmar embassy in Malaysia collected a list of those who desire to go back to Myanmar. In the list, there are about 3000 undocumented workers according to embassy official in Malaysia. Besides, Myanmar and Malaysia government has held discussions to send undocumented Myanmar workers to their native place. There are more than 300,000 illegal Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia.