Human Rights

There are almost one million Burmese migrants and refugees currently living in Thailand. Faced with a wide variety of human rights abuses, the arbitrary destruction and compulsory requisitioning of land and property, and a poor economy, the prospect of earning a relatively stable wage in Thailand, and being in a position to support families and relatives back home, is extremely attractive.

Although Thailand is seen as country of opportunity, with riches, justice, and a high standard of living, migrant workers arriving with no money, no job, and nowhere to stay find that the reality is often very different.

Mekong Minority Foundation's local partner helps Burmese Migrants gain access to the rights to which they are entitled, as well as helping to meet their basic needs and supporting their integration into society.

In Thailand, labour migrants are entitled to apply for a one year worker's permit. But despite the government's attempts to encourage all migrant workers to register, a large proportion of Burmese migrants remain undocumented. The cost of registering is often prohibitive, and many migrants also lack the knowledge and language skills to carry out the complicated processes involved.

Workers with a work permit are theoretically entitled to seek protection under Thai Labour laws and health cover under the Thai national healthcare system. In practice, however, migrant labour workers lack knowledge of these laws, and have no way of making sure their employers adhere to these rules. Employers often take advantage of this situation to exploit migrant workers, paying substantially less than the minimum wage, forcing migrants to work overtime and in unsafe conditions, and refusing to pay compensation for accidents occurring at work.