MYANMAR – The junta council issued a directive to process the documents of the workers working in Thailand on the G to G system only if they can show proof of transferring 25% of their salary back to Myanmar.
The Labour Ministry of the junta council ordered that starting August 1, the Myanmar workers returning to work in Thailand under U-turn system will have their documents to return to work in Thailand processed at the MOU U-turn office in Myawaddy and Kawthoung only if they can show proof of transferring 25% of the three months basic pay (6,000 THB out of an estimated 24,000 THB) to either their family back in Myanmar or their bank account in Myanmar.
It is said that the workers are told to complete the documents for transferring money before they visit the MOU U-turn office, as the workers who have yet to transfer their pay to their families will face delays in the process.
The junta ministry also reportedly ordered the Foreign Employment Agency Association of Myanmar to keep the licensed foreign employment agencies in Thailand updated regarding the directive.
“They are targeting the workers going to Thailand under the G to G system. This will cause problems for all those working in Thailand. Their permits to work, documents, and departure will be approved only if they have transferred money. It is intentionally making things worse,” said Mr. Ye Min of AAC who is working for the rights of Myanmar workers in Thailand.
Millions of Myanmar workers are working in Thailand and the workers’ rights activists said that the junta council has been doing everything to receive tax and foreign currency from those workers.
