Decrease reported in number of migrant workers in Thailand returning to Myanmar for Thingyan

By Admin 15 Apr 2023

DMG Newsroom
15 April 2023, Sittwe

The number of Myanmar migrant labourers working in Thailand who returned to their homeland for the Thingyan holiday is down from previous years, according to Myanmar’s Labor Attaché Office.

“The number of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand returning to Myanmar is significantly lower than previous years due to political turmoil and instability,” said an official from Myanmar’s Labor Attaché Office.

U Moe Kyaw of the Yaung Chi Oo Workers’ Association, which handles labour issues, said that there were many people who re-entered Myanmar every year during Thingyan, but the low number of re-enterers this year is due to the continuous fighting along the Myawaddy-Kawkareik road, part of what is also known as the Asia Highway.

“Now, as you know, fighting is happening everywhere. The anti-regime forces also issued warnings prohibiting people from travelling along the Asia Highway. Myanmar migrants do not return home because they are afraid of the danger,” he explained.

A contributing factor to the reduced cross-border movement, according to a migrant returnee who did not wish to be named, is that in the past, some Myanmar migrant workers who returned home during Thingyan were allowed to return for a limited time without the need to pay for an exemption visa or passport stamp, but this year the cost of returning home is K50,000.

“In previous years, we didn’t have to pay anything when we returned home, but this year, we have to pay up to 50,000 kyats if we return home. The immigration officials asked K50,000 for the paperwork fee from the workers who will be returning home,” the unnamed migrant worker added.

The No. 1 Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge over the Moei River in Myawaddy, Kayin (Karen) State, was reopened on January 12 of this year for migrant workers in Thailand to return home. The crossing had been closed since 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.