intra-regional migrant flow: Myanmar to Thailand

Question 1

location

Answer 1

Thailand: centre of mainland SE asia
Myanmar: lies to the Northwest of Thailand

Question 2

who’s migrating?

Answer 2

-hosted 1.8 million from Myanmar (80% of migrants)
-55% male 45% female
-3000 seasonal workers
-in 2009: 1.3 million illegal workers from Myanmar, Laos and Cambodia in Thailand

Question 3

why do people migrate?

Answer 3

-Thailand has the fastest growing economy in SE asia so has labour shortages in agriculture, manufacturing, construction
-minimum wage in T is 10x in M
-in 2003 the ministry of labour of thailand and myanmar signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) meaning Thailand would be able to import future myanmar workers through financial channels

Question 4

remittances

Answer 4

-myanmar government controlled remittance flow via sanctioning remittances (10% service fee)–> informal banking channels emerged
-Myanmar received $1.26 billion USD in 2022
-2011: Thai ministry of labour registered 1 million myanmar migrants- an estimated 2.6 million were undocumented