Migrant Workers Continue To Suffer In Thai Industries: Editorial

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EDITORIAL

Migrant workers continue to suffer in Thai industries

The Nation

BANGKOK: -- The plight of unskilled labourers from Myanmar and other neighbouring countries is a national scandal that is continually swept under the carpet

It shouldn't have to take a woman with high moral authority to shine the spotlight on the appalling conditions of migrant workers from Myanmar in Thailand.

How Myanmar workers are treated and paid in this country, and the conditions they suffer, should have been enough of a case in itself to attract much-needed attention.

But with Myanmar opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi's visit to Mahachai - home to Thailand's largest population of Myanmar workers - it is nevertheless to be hoped that this ongoing labour issue will get the kind of attention it deserves.

It would have been better if our political leaders had the moral courage to do something from the beginning, but instead they have always chosen to turn a blind eye. Not only that, they are also unabashed when it comes to decisions such as deportations and not permitting workers from Myanmar to carry out cultural activities.

Like other Asean authorities, Thai officials often talk about Asean unity, noting that Thailand and Myanmar share the same roof. But that's just rhetoric and lip service and we all know it.

Where unity really counts is at the people-to-people level. And this is where the Asean regional grouping has failed.

Forging people-to-people ties has never been easy in this part of the world, where political leaders often play up nationalistic sentiment to boost their standing in spite of the fact that it comes at the expense of better ties with neighbours.

Suu Kyi's visit to the migrant workers reminds us of what really matters. At its root, this is not what the negotiated text of Asean rhetoric says; it is about these moments of integrity and compassion. One way - perhaps the only way - to measure the significance of our own lives is by valuing the lives of others.

Myanmar workers in Thailand may be downtrodden, but they are still hopeful. They are hopeful that "The Lady" can reverse decades of economic ruin and build much-needed confidence so that investment and development can take place in Myanmar, so that they can return home and work in a more dignified setting and manner.

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people. Thailand hosts more than two million Myanmar workers, mostly in manual-labour industries.

Many of these workers have paid what was for them huge sums of money to be smuggled into the country by so-called agents who take a big cut of their income. Many of these agents are Thai and Burmese officials whose only interest is making money, not helping improve the lives of itinerant workers.

According to Andy Hall, an expert at the Institute for Population and Social Research at Mahidol University, nearly half of Myanmar workers in Thailand have no work permit. Nevertheless, they contribute as much as 7 per cent of Thailand's GDP.

Moreover, the fact that they make up between 5 and 10 per cent of the Thai work force should be enough for us to take their concerns seriously.

"When you work in another country, be responsible and skilful, so people in the country can respect you," Suu Kyi told those she met in Mahachai. The 67-year-old Nobel laureate said she would ask that their children be permitted to attend school here.

Suu Kyi promised to take up their case and do whatever she can to improve their conditions. Her next stop in this endeavour is the International Labour Organisation.

It is sad that we have had to wait for a world-famous icon from another country to shine the spotlight on such shortcomings here. A responsible nation with adequate moral courage would not have let itself descend to this position.

-- The Nation 2012-06-02

[Soutpeel]

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation....who would have thought it, if they keep doing this may actually turn into a respectable newspaper...

[Woodcaulk]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

[Kilgore Trout]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

[jonclark]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

+1 good reply. Always staggers me as to the almost fascist nature of many TV posters

[chooka]

I wonder what Thailand would say if Australia treated the 20,000 odd thai workers the same way. I am sure Thailand would be screaming human rights abuses. There is an old saying, "Treat others as you would like to be treated."

Edited June 2, 2012 by chooka

[Soutpeel]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

....so which demographic are you....bones of their arse "English teacher" working here illegally or the old colonial geriatic OAP fart complaining about his pension ?

[Woodcaulk]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

Yes that is correct, those who hire the illegals, if they are indeed breaking Thai labor laws should be prosecuted and NO the illegal migrants they should not be locked up and deported, just deported. I've never witness a deportation, however my understanding is that they are treated all right, watered, fed and given a free ride back to the border. It is better than the way they got here it seems. Perhaps insinuating that you might be a glue sniffer was a bit over the top. I probably should have just expressed that IMO your agreeing with the Nations very one-sided op-ed indicated to me a bias on your part possibly due to flaws in thought process or just general wrong-headed thought.

[chooka]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

Yes that is correct, those who hire the illegals, if they are indeed breaking Thai labor laws should be prosecuted and NO the illegal migrants they should not be locked up and deported, just deported. I've never witness a deportation, however my understanding is that they are treated all right, watered, fed and given a free ride back to the border. It is better than the way they got here it seems. Perhaps insinuating that you might be a glue sniffer was a bit over the top. I probably should have just expressed that IMO your agreeing with the Nations very one-sided op-ed indicated to me a bias on your part possibly due to flaws in thought process or just general wrong-headed thought.

So what you are actually saying is that he/she has a different opinion to you? I just shortened it.

[Woodcaulk]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

+1 good reply. Always staggers me as to the almost fascist nature of many TV posters

Hmmm, seems to me you are using the term "fascist" as it is so often overused by those who don't know the definition of fascism:

A totalitarian philosophy of government that glorifies the state and nation and assigns to the state control over every aspect of national life. The name was first used by the party started by Benito Mussolini , who ruled Italy from 1922 until the Italian defeat in World War II. However, it has also been applied to similar ideologies in other countries, e.g., to National Socialism in Germany and to the regime of Francisco Franco in Spain.

[Woodcaulk]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

Yes that is correct, those who hire the illegals, if they are indeed breaking Thai labor laws should be prosecuted and NO the illegal migrants they should not be locked up and deported, just deported. I've never witness a deportation, however my understanding is that they are treated all right, watered, fed and given a free ride back to the border. It is better than the way they got here it seems. Perhaps insinuating that you might be a glue sniffer was a bit over the top. I probably should have just expressed that IMO your agreeing with the Nations very one-sided op-ed indicated to me a bias on your part possibly due to flaws in thought process or just general wrong-headed thought.

So what you are actually saying is that he/she has a different opinion to you? I just shortened it.

Yes you did shorten it just a bit....but hey colorful language can be so fun and educational

[Woodcaulk]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

....so which demographic are you....bones of their arse "English teacher" working here illegally or the old colonial geriatic OAP fart complaining about his pension ?

"bones of their arse"

I must admit I've never heard/read this descriptive term and don't really have a full and complete understanding of it, but I do like it and hope you won't mind my using it in the future ...if I can figure out how to do so? As far as your example demographics, I don't believe I fit into any of the ones you've listed, but then again I'm not a metro-sexual cross-dresser hooked on daily colonics and cheap gin either so I guess I'm feeling a bit cocky about my lot in life.

[hellodolly]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

Well I have read all the posts and I am still mystified as to why you are being so nice too him.

[chooka]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

....so which demographic are you....bones of their arse "English teacher" working here illegally or the old colonial geriatic OAP fart complaining about his pension ?

"bones of their arse"

I must admit I've never heard/read this descriptive term and don't really have a full and complete understanding of it, but I do like it and hope you won't mind my using it in the future ...if I can figure out how to do so? As far as your example demographics, I don't believe I fit into any of the ones you've listed, but then again I'm not a metro-sexual cross-dresser hooked on daily colonics and cheap gin either so I guess I'm feeling a bit cocky about my lot in life.

oh you guys

[hellodolly]

To get away from the treend so far I would like to report a bit of information that was passed on to me yesterday. I can not speak for or against its truth.

The Burmese are paid so low because there employers have to pay tea money every day to a variety of sources, Even if they are here legally. Now this person claimed up to 100 baht as day per employe. The BIB getting up to 50 baht a day.

I make no claims of the truth or untruth of these statements I am just passing them on. Hopefully some out there know and post facts in this matter. This is a day by day payment not a lump sum payment to get into the country.

Edited June 2, 2012 by hellodolly

[Kilgore Trout]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

Yes that is correct, those who hire the illegals, if they are indeed breaking Thai labor laws should be prosecuted and NO the illegal migrants they should not be locked up and deported, just deported. I've never witness a deportation, however my understanding is that they are treated all right, watered, fed and given a free ride back to the border. It is better than the way they got here it seems. Perhaps insinuating that you might be a glue sniffer was a bit over the top. I probably should have just expressed that IMO your agreeing with the Nations very one-sided op-ed indicated to me a bias on your part possibly due to flaws in thought process or just general wrong-headed thought.

I think you are a bit mis informed about the way these people are treated. Go to Chiang Mai and visit the immigrant detention centre; its loaded with migrants in squalid conditions.

Truth is, when a illegal is arrested they cannot be processed into the system because they "don't really exist." So what happens is that they just sit in a cell until they can provide paperwork and id etc, which never happens, what does happen is that their friends/family save up and pay a bribe to immigration who then may as you put it "give them a ride to the border."

Also, treated right, watered, fed.... you really do think of them as dogs don't you?

[Skywalker69]

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation....who would have thought it, if they keep doing this may actually turn into a respectable newspaper...

+1

[Skywalker69]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

What do you think will happen if all migrant-workers in Thailand decided to go back home to their Country's? 2.000.000 people.

[Soutpeel]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

+1 good reply. Always staggers me as to the almost fascist nature of many TV posters

Hmmm, seems to me you are using the term "fascist" as it is so often overused by those who don't know the definition of fascism:

A totalitarian philosophy of government that glorifies the state and nation and assigns to the state control over every aspect of national life. The name was first used by the party started by Benito Mussolini , who ruled Italy from 1922 until the Italian defeat in World War II. However, it has also been applied to similar ideologies in other countries, e.g., to National Socialism in Germany and to the regime of Francisco Franco in Spain.

Thank you Wikipedia

[Soutpeel]

I'm not a metro-sexual cross-dresser hooked on daily colonics and cheap gin either so I guess I'm feeling a bit cocky about my lot in life.

Ah ok your references to not being metro-sexual, infers to me then that you are a homosexual cross dresser then ?.I have come to this conclusion as regards your reference to feeling cocks, which one assumes are not the feathered variety..

[Babcock]

Many have left their parents and children to come here and take up jobs shunned by our own people.

Er,...how about insert : to come here "illegally of their own free will" in violation of Thai immigration law.

If it sucks so bad to be in Thailand they can put one foot in front of the other and go right directly to the nearest immigration office, turn their illegal selves in and wait for a free ride back to where they came from.

WOW a well thought out and written piece from the Nation

Yes it is...if you are a bleeding-heart liberal with the mind of a glue-sniffer.

Well if you are so concerned with the rule of law, then perhaps the people who HIRE the illegal immigrants should be prosecuted too then right???

Doesn't sound very Thai to me, Thai people should hire THAI people not illegal migrants, however you feel that Thai business owners should have the right to lure migrants to Thailand to work for nothing, then when they complain about being treated like dogs, according to you they should lock them up and deport them right?

Idiot

Yes that is correct, those who hire the illegals, if they are indeed breaking Thai labor laws should be prosecuted and NO the illegal migrants they should not be locked up and deported, just deported. I've never witness a deportation, however my understanding is that they are treated all right, watered, fed and given a free ride back to the border. It is better than the way they got here it seems. Perhaps insinuating that you might be a glue sniffer was a bit over the top. I probably should have just expressed that IMO your agreeing with the Nations very one-sided op-ed indicated to me a bias on your part possibly due to flaws in thought process or just general wrong-headed thought.

And only recently we had those army colonels caught smuggling deisel into Cambodia and smuggling workers/slaves into Thailand and what was the punishment?

[bigbamboo]

The fact is most Burmese workers are illegal and they and their Thai employers know it. It suits both parties but there are risks as well as benefits. Maybe that will all change in 2015... or not.

[Woodcaulk]

I think you are a bit mis informed about the way these people are treated. Go to Chiang Mai and visit the immigrant detention centre; its loaded with migrants in squalid conditions.

I don't doubt what you say about the conditions, but if its so bad and been going on so long, one would think that word of mouth would carry with those who return to Myanmar. Point being that their problem relating to this poor treatment begins in Myanmar not Thailand and if they never came in the first place they obviously would not be in the position they are in. Perhaps simplistic, but impossible to argue otherwise...?

Also, treated right, watered, fed.... you really do think of them as dogs don't you?

No, not at all, but then that probably goes to the way I view how dogs are treated in Thailand. If they were treated as dogs, I'd be all day stepping around and over Burmese as well as stray soi dogs to get anywhere ...dear God I hope I don't have nightmares tonight of soi dogs and great piles of Burmese poo in the streets

[samran]

The fact is most Burmese workers are illegal and they and their Thai employers know it. It suits both parties but there are risks as well as benefits. Maybe that will all change in 2015... or not.

The stats are probably the other way around from what I've heard annecdotally. 2 million migrant workers registered in Thailand. 80% of those Burmese. Another 1 million more still outside the system, which is probably where the issues are. And serious issues they can be too.

[Woodcaulk]

What do you think will happen if all migrant-workers in Thailand decided to go back home to their Country's? 2.000.000 people.

Uh...no menial labor would get done in Thailand? Sheer panic on the part of those who depend on illegals for their work or the income?...How about we take it a step further and imagine that all the migrant-workers did not come to Thailand in the first place? We are indulging in pure fantasy either way, but it would be fun to see the outcome as long as you could do so without getting any of it on yourself.

[Woodcaulk]

Thank you Wikipedia

Actually from "thirdworldtraveler" and numerous other reference sites. Not many would be able to regurgitate that precise info without googleing it. One of those terms that's over-used quite carelessly and incorrectly IMO.

[Woodcaulk]

I'm not a metro-sexual cross-dresser hooked on daily colonics and cheap gin either so I guess I'm feeling a bit cocky about my lot in life.

Ah ok your references to not being metro-sexual, infers to me then that you are a homosexual cross dresser then ?.I have come to this conclusion as regards your reference to feeling cocks, which one assumes are not the feathered variety..

Your perceptions of inference and your conclusions are incorrect....but...I give you much credit for being able to type with one hand while never lowering the glue bag from your face with the other hand.

[osiboy]

seems thais treat loas , cambodians, burmese all the same , they are obviously a superior race , or at least think so , reminds me a little of why the english are so popular amongs their closest nieghbours like france,wales,scotland and ireland , ............. im so looking forward to how this ASEAN Community works out when the borders are opened up , just be like the waltons family home i recon !