Myanmar Migrants to Thailand: Economic Analysis and Implications to Myanmar Development

Description: 

Abstract: "For decades, Myanmar migrants have crossed the border to work in Thailand, and only in the 2000s Thailand had launched a long-term policy, aiming to recruit formal migrants and legalize migrant workers holding temporary work permits. However, no extension would be permitted after 2012. That year, the number of registered Myanmar migrants stood at 1,186,805 Myanmar migrants, with 619,644 comprised of regular skilled and unskilled workers and another 567,161 migrants consisting of irregular unskilled workers in various labour intensive industries, agriculture, trading and services. Recent political and economic reform in Myanmar has brought changes to the development of the country. Major labour market sectors for Myanmar migrants in Thailand include agriculture, construction, manufacturing and service which absorb large numbers of workers. In order to invite experienced, semi-skilled and skilled Myanmar migrant working in Thailand for development in Myanmar, an appealing policy in Myanmar is needed. A survey of 204 Myanmar migrants in Bangkok, Samutsakorn and Mae Sot district, Tak province, Thailand, found that majority of them realize about the changes taking place in Myanmar today. These migrants contribute millions baht of their remittent annually to support their families in Myanmar in addition to and have obtained valuable skills and experiences from working in Thailand. Some of Myanmar migrant workers plan to go back in a few years but under certain circumstances, such as having enough savings, economic opportunities, competitive wages to support a decent standard of livings as well as political stability and sufficient infrastructure in Myanmar..."

Creator/author: 

Supang CHANTAVANICH and Premjai VUNGSIRIPHISAL

Source/publisher: 

Bangkok Research Center (IDE-Jetro) Research Report No. 10

Date of Publication: 

2013-00-00

Date of entry: 

2015-09-25

Grouping: 

  • Individual Documents

Category: 

Language: 

English

Local URL: 

Format: 

pdf

Size: 

547.32 KB

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