MYANMAR TO THAILAND (SOUTH TO SOUTH)

• overview of myanmar to thailand migrant corridor

  largest ASEAN migrant corridor involving 1.9million migrants
• push factors of myanmar

  forced labour in government development projects

  conflict - 1988 political unrest meant increased migrant outflow
• pull factors of thailand

  fastest growing economy in southeast asia

  labour shortages for thailand in agriculture, manufacturing and construction

  minimum wage in thailand is 10x that of myanmar
• key policies impacting myanmar to thailand migrant corridor

  2000s - thailand launched long term policy aiming to recruit formal migrants

  2003 - thailand and myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding meaning Thailand would be able to import myanmar workers via official channels

  myanmar lacked comprehensive and holistic migration policy and management body up to 2010 - new govt implemented policies and focuses on migrant protection and addressing education of migrant children etc
• demographics of myanmar to thailand migrant corridor

  2012 - 90k migrants with temporary work permits in thailand construction, 84k in agriculture

  myanmar migrants compose 80% of thailands foreign migrant population

  2014 - thailand total migrant population of 2.3 million with 1.7 million from myanmar

  estimated 200,000 second generation migrants (children)
• effects / problems of myanmar to thailand migrant flow

  myanmar government controlled remittances via taking 10% service fee however this resulted in informal banking channels emerging

  predicted labour shortage of over 5 million people in thailand in next decade as many myanmar migrants express wishes to return