Republic of the Union of Myanmar
National Unity Government
Ministry of Labour
Statement No (2/2024)
13th Waxing of Waso, 1386 ME
(Thursday, 18 July 2024)
Statement regarding Myanmar Migrant Workers and Citizens in Thailand
- In Myanmar, the military group has daily conducted terrorism and suppressions of killing, torturing and abductions on the entire population, including workers in the country, besides, oppressed Myanmar migrant workers and expatriates in all means.
- It’s heard that the Certification of Identity-CI Cards have been officially issued by the military junta for undocumented migrant workers only if the required documents including national identification cards, list of household members and others can be submitted with the application, and it is completely different from the original intention of issuing CI Cards for those who cannot provide any documentation. Issuing CI Cards instead of passports for those who can provide the required documents of citizenships is a violation of the basic citizen rights to hold official passports, and exploiting the hard-earned wages of migrant workers with the intention of creating a stream of revenues to use in their brutal terrorism treats on the people. Forcibly collecting income tax from the salary of expatriate citizens; pressurizing them to send remittances to families through banks and financial services companies that they designate is only aimed at their interests and perpetuation of power.
- In this situation, our Ministry of Labour, the National Unity Government would like to urge the government, the house of representatives and parliament, concerned bodies and people of Thailand who prioritize the basic human and labour rights not to allow the Myanmar military junta’s violations in free and fair Thailand, Ministry of Labour, the National Unity Government expressed its readiness to cooperate with the relevant ministries in Thailand regarding the issues of Myanmar migrant workers, and regarding Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand, the Thailand government should prioritize the implementations of the following points;
(a) To start issuing Non-Thai Identification Card (Pink Card) to undocumented Myanmar migrant workers as soon as possible.
(b) Allowing those holding the Non-Thai Identification Card (Pink Card), Work Permit or similar documentation to work, stay and travel freely within the country.
(c) Revoking or refusing Certification of Identity-CI Cards issuing process of the military junta in Thailand and reconsidering the governmental policy on this process.
(d) Effectively ceasing the military junta actions of forcibly collecting income tax from the salary of expatriate citizens that they designate by violating the bilateral agreement to not collect double taxes from the salary of Myanmar nationals in Thailand, and pressurizing to send 25% of salary to families through banks and financial services companies as remittances.
(e) Allowing Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand with expired passports to extend their Work Permits and Visas as humanitarian aid and to continue to work for a specified period of time.
Ministry of Labour
National Unity Government