Myanmar workers in Thailand ‘will get 20 days to go home at Thingyan’
Employers in Thailand have agreed to allow migrant workers from Myanmar to visit their homes for 20 days over the Thingyan period, according to Ye Min from Aid Alliance Committee for Myanmar workers in Thailand (AAC).
“We have been informed about this through labour attaché Moe Aung Khaing. Thai labour officials held a meeting with consular officials from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to allow migrant workers from Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos to return to their homes as a special privilege for them,” Ye Min said.
“Thai officials agreed to allow Myanmar migrant workers 20 days – from April 10 to 30. It will be officially announced during April after the parliament agrees it. It will be announced across the country.
“All migrant workers holding pink cards can go home. Temporary passport holders can go home as usual. Workers under an MoU agreement can go too. They don’t need to submit documents in detail like before,” he said.
Last year, workers from Myanmar faced difficulty to go home for the Thingyan Festival as they had to get document showing approval to travel.
But Ye Min said: “It is good for them this year. The [only] strange thing is whoever goes home via Mae Sot, Ranong or Mae Sai, they have to go back to Thailand via the same border gate they exited.”
