This paper focuses on the plight of irregular Myanmar migrants working in Thailand. It provides information about Myanmar migration to Thailand, including push-pull factors, the migration routes and fees, the experiences and working conditions in Thailand and how both Myanmar and Thai migration policies negatively impact irregular Myanmar migrant workers.
In references to the economic and social consequences of migration, the author draws on fieldwork in Thailand from Mae Sot, Mahachai and Bangkok from 2002 to 2003. However, no further information is provided about the research method, data sources or data that was collected or sampled.
The author concludes that there are a large number of irregular Myanmar migrants working in Thailand. Migrants choose irregular channels to escape political turmoil and persecution in Myanmar and to take advantage of the greater economic opportunity in Thailand. Irregular migration is common among Myanmar migrants who choose to cross the border, and there is a larger number of irregular and undocumented Myanmar workers in Thailand than documented, regular migrants. Data is provided to illustrate the numbers. The irregular migrants are not afforded any protections under Thai labour laws and face additional arrest and persecution once they arrive back in Myanmar for having left the country irregularly. The author argues that the Thai Government needs Myanmar migrant workers to do the jobs shunned by Thai nationals and that this demand will continue in years to come.
