A Rights Training for Burmese Migrant Workers

The Foundation for Education and Development (FED) organized a rights training program for Burmese migrant workers.  This was conducted on January 28th-30th ,2013 at the Sawade Lagon Hotel, Nartae Quarter in Thai Meaung City of the Phang Nga Province in Southern Thailand.

A health education workshop for migrant workers and a fundraiser for a school that serves migrant workers’ children were held at the Unified Learning Center (ULC) which was opened by the FED. The fundraiseing was held at Unified Learning Center in Khuk Khak, Takuapa, in Phang Nga District on February 28^th, 2013. It was intended to raise funds for FED’s education program for the coming year. In a speech at the event, it was described that Myanmar migrant workers should understand rules and regulations of Thailand as well as their individual rights so they can advocate and cooperate for the future education of their children.

“We don’t have enough budget for coming year. The current donors don’t want to keep providing money for us anymore as they want to make their donations to the inside projects in the transition period of Myanmar to democracy. So, we will have to fundraise many times in order for the children to learn well next year and not only we, the FED staff, but the parents also should actively participate in our fundraisers” said FED Staff member, U Min Thein Kyaw. FED activities such as health, education, labor affairs, etc. were displayed and a variety of Myanmar food was sold in the fundraising event.

A symposium of migrant workers’ affairs in the Mekong region was held at IBIS Riverside Hotel in Bangkok, Thailand from February 25^th to 28^th. The Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Labor for the Union of Republic of Myanmar Mr. Myint Thein attended the symposium and explained the current situation of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, and how the Myanmar government is working to help them.

Mr. Myint Thein said, “We, the government, are working to have Myanmar workers be legal in Thailand and although the period to apply for temporary passport determined by the Thai government expired on December 14^th, 2012, we managed to negotiate with Thai authorities to extend the period. We have opened 11 offices to issue passports since February 15^th, 2013 and the collaboration of local and international non-governmental organizations has been very important for migrant workers to gain legal working status”. He continued, “Labor ambassadors have been appointed in Thailand and South Korea for Myanmar migrant workers and labor officers will be appointed in Malaysia and Middle East countries where a lot of Burmese people are working.”

The medical kits giving occasion was held at Khao Lak Seaview in Khao Lak Village in Takuapa Township, Phang Nga on Mar 7^th, 2013 at which the Japanese Ambassador to Thailand delivered an opening speech describing that health care was very important for migrant workers. He said that the Japanese Embassy has been helping FED on education projects since 2008 and health projects for one year since 2012, which have produced over 100 health workers. This handover of medical kits is intended to help FED continue working on their projects.

“We have provided an emergency car to help migrant workers from remote areas and interpreters for migrant workers for their convenience and to reduce language barriers at clinics and hospitals,” said the Japanese Ambassador. He continued, “Moreover, we are glad to know that the relationship and collaboration between Myanmar and Thailand is becoming stronger by doing so. Now we see Myanmar’s reforms and we and other organizations are involved in its economics and development. We Japanese Embassy will hopefully be able to continue helping migrant workers with their education and health tirelessly as we think Thai economic development will have to rely on migrant workers.”