Thailand's curfew affects Myanmar migrants' income

 

After the enforcement of curfew, Myanmar migrants in major cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai get paid the minimum daily wage of Bt300 without overtime.

"A worker earns Bt300 per day in Bangkok, a big city where living costs are high. Workers normally have to work between 10 to 12 hours to earn overtime pay. Now, they cannot work overtime so their income has been affected," said Moe Gyo, chairman of Joint Committee for Movement of Myanmar Citizens' Affairs.

The situation is worse in provinces. Although the minimum wage nationwide has been set at Bt300, Myanmar migrant workers in the western province of Tak only receive around Bt180 per day and they need to work overtime to cover their daily expenses. However, they are facing difficulties now that they cannot work overtime.

Following lengthy anti-government protests in the past six months in Thailand, the Thai military imposed martial law on May 21 and declared a coup two days later.

The curfew is imposed in Thailand, initially from 10pm to 5am before it was changed to midnight to 4am. Despite the relaxation for labourers working night shifts, some factories have opted to suspend the night shift. 

Nearly 4 million Myanmar migrants are currently working in Thailand.

Thailand's Foreign Affairs permanent secretary, Sihasak Phuangketkeow, today sought a meeting with Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Wunna Maung Lwin in Nay Pyi Taw, to explain the current political situation in Thailand to Myanmar which is Asean Chair for this year.

He would unveil Thailand's roadmap to the Asean Chair, with hope that all member states would understand the situation better. 

Sek Wannamethee, the Thai ministry's spokesman, admitted that Asean nations have expressed concerns on the Thai situation and possible impacts on the regional bloc. Yet, Asean may not host a special session on Thailand, as that has never happened and Asean has held the non-intervention policy.

 

--

Twenty-three int'l organisations in Rakhine State now

 

Myanmar Eleven 

Some 23 international agencies, including those from the United Nations and international non-governmental organisations, are providing assistance in Rakhine State, according to the Emergency Coordination Centre.

Among the INGOs, only two - Medecins Sans Frontieres International and Malta-based Malteser International, are banned from the state, said the ECC.

"The ECC does not control work of foreign organisations. It is just working to make them more transparent. Now never like before, they are providing development aids to poor ethnic villages in the state. We provide necessary help for their accommodation and security. They are now numbering at 23," said an ECC official.

The ECC was established on February 18, becoming a union-level agency on April 8. It comprises government ministers, senior officials, officials from local organizations and elders from local areas.

The UN agencies and INGOs are now working in the state, providing aids for local development including healthcare services.

"Now they (UN agencies and INGOs) present their work plans a week in advance for official permission. We decide whether they should go ahead after review. Previously we knew nothing about their works there, but now know more about them. It is more transparent. We will discuss with them if they have worked more than what they presented," said the official.

Three Rakhine villages like Ohnrayphaw, Thownsaung and Zawmatat are now under the care of the UN agencies, Rakhine State government and Border Affairs Ministry for their local development. 

And local people say that many Rakhine ethnic villages need more help for their development from international agencies.