Rights of migrants to be protected
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Myanmar govt stations labour officers in Thailand, M'sia, S Korea
Myanmar has stationed labour officers in Thailand, Malaysia and South Korea in order to safeguard the rights of its migrants working overseas, according to Deputy Minister for Labour, Employment and Social Security Htin Aung.
Htin Aung was speaking in response to the motion “the government calls for protecting Myanmar’s migrant workers under the Asean policy on migrant workers”, submitted by MP Myint Kyi of the upper house.
“The government is working on ensuring full labour rights for migrant workers after appointing labour officers in the respective countries. And we are coordinating with relevant agencies through Myanmar embassies in those countries,” the deputy minister said.
As of May, the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security had issued licences for 202 job placement agents to fill jobs overseas. The ministry is in the process of drafting new legislation for overseas employment to enhance the protection of migrant workers.
The ministry’s top officials have been holding a series of talks with their foreign counterparts to ensure the compliance of labour rights. Labour officers posted abroad have submitted their reports on a monthly basis to update the ministry on the situation in respective countries.
Earlier, the chairperson of the Myanmar Overseas Employment Services Association said camps would be opened on the Myanmar-Thai border to help deported migrant workers.
The association held an urgent meeting on the situation facing Myanmar workers in Thailand on June 18, after thousands of illegal migrants were rounded up and detained by the Thai authorities.
“People are being seized in Thailand and deported to Myanmar,” said chairman of the association Min Hlaing. “We will build camps in Myawady, Techilek and Kawthoung. The migrants will be sent back to their native towns from the camps and will be aided with basic needs.”
The government has pledged to help returning workers to find employment in line with their qualifications, as well as linking them with employment agencies.
“Currently we have opened up call centres. We’ve already sent our members to Thailand,” added Min Hlaing.
After military coup in Thailand, a total of 163 illegal Myanmar workers were rounded up in Mae Sot on June 3. Hundreds of thousands of Myanmar, Laotian and Cambodian migrant workers have since been detained and deported across Thailand in the crackdown.
