REGIONAL PERSPECTIVE

Thailand's cynical ploy on Burmese migrant workers

Published on December 11, 2006

Thailand should stop exploiting cheap labour from Burma, Laos and Cambodia. The ethical government of Prime Minister Surayud Chulanond must find ways to provide these workers with reasonable wages and adequate social protection.
This is the single most important thing this government can do to make a difference within a year. But to do so, Surayud must be brave in exposing Thai exploiters - whoever they are - and the system that treats migrant workers as slaves.
Last week, the long-awaited plan to legalise these foreign workers hit a snag when the Rangoon junta insisted that all unregistered Burmese workers must first be sent back to Burma for nationality verification before returning to work legally in Thailand.
On the surface, the plan sounds simple enough, as it provides work permits for migrants to take up unskilled jobs. But upon close scrutiny, this turns out to be a cynical scheme concocted by the Thaksin government and the Burmese junta to help each other.
During Thaksin's last visit to Burma in August, he concluded a memorandum of understanding with General Than Shwe on migrant workers. In it, Thailand agreed to send back illegal Burmese workers for verification of their nationality. These workers would be subject to the control of the Burmese junta, which would issue travel documents to certified workers to return to Thailand.
If this myopic approach is implemented by the Surayud government, it would be tantamount to sending Burmese workers to the gallows. The procedure will enable the junta's supporters, especially those related to the pro-government paramilitary group, the USDA, to dispatch their own members and affiliates to work and spy in Thailand. Fortunately, senior Thai government officials are now having second thoughts on the issue.
Over the years, the Thai industrial sector has exploited and benefited from cheap Burmese labour, paying one-third to one-fifth of the standard wage. Currently, a total of 668,576 illegal workers from Laos, Cambodia and Burma are in Thailand. More than 80 per cent are Burmese. They crossed the border in search of a better life. At a recent policy meeting on foreign labour at Government House, the contentious issue remained unresolved on how to deal with them.
Thaksin's agreement to the scheme demonstrated how gullible he was - and how he was willing to risk the lives of Burmese workers residing in Thailand.
When the ex-junta leader, General Saw Maung came to power, it was former army chief, General Chavalit Yongchaiyudh who went to Rangoon to end the international isolation imposed on Burma following the slaughter of pro-democracy demonstrators in 1988. Chavalit returned to Bangkok with fat concessions on fisheries and timber. In exchange, he pushed Burmese migrants in exile in Thailand back across the border. The result was that hundreds of them were either murdered or jailed by the Burmese regime.
Under the disguise of workers' registration, the Burmese generals hope they can further check the number of workers fleeing to Thailand. Almost 70 per cent of the Burmese workers are in fact non-Burmans belonging to various minority groups such as the Karen, Kachin and Shan. If the Thai government pushes these people back, the majority of them will be either detained or executed because of their activities inside Thailand.
Over the past few months, Laos and Cambodia have dispatched officials to Bangkok to register and verify the nationality of their workers. This method proved practical, effective and inexpensive. Now, the registration of Lao and Cambodian workers has been completed. So far, over 10,000 Burmese workers have been registered and granted work permits.
It seems the Surayud government is losing its way in the labyrinth of Thai-Burmese relations. He has followed the Foreign Ministry's guidelines, which aim to win back trust and support from the junta. Knowingly or not, he earlier gave support to the junta by saying the UN Security Council should not be discussing Burma's internal issues.
The Thai government continues to pursue the wrong policy. It's a reminder of the three million Indochinese refugees who took refuge here in the 1970s and 80s. Almost all have been resettled in third countries or have gone home. None expressed gratitude for Thailand's role during that difficult period. Indeed, they do not have reason to do so, because they were treated inhumanely during their transit here.
If Surayud does not change this Burmese policy, it will tarnish both his image and Thailand's reputation. More than the officials like to admit, these Burmese workers will eventually reside and work in Thailand because they work on jobs that Thais refuse to do. The proper way to document these workers is through the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and specialised agencies.
It is about time we supported the hard-working Burmese and those who have aspirations for democratic development.