Migrant workers risk infection when going home or mingling with illegals (Star, 22/6/2009)

Monday June 22, 2009

Migrant workers risk infection when going home or mingling with illegals

By FOONG PEK YEE

DAYANG, a 20-year-old Indonesian maid, has the best of both worlds. Declared fit by Fomema for a work permit, she takes care of her employer’s baby during weekdays. During weekends, she goes home where she mingles with her family and friends.

Then one day, she started coughing. It turned out to be tuberculosis when her employer took her for a second mandatory screening.

Her employer, known as Mrs Chung, recalling the episode which happened two years ago, says Dayang did not believe she had tuberculosis and refused treatment.

Dayang has since left her job.

Looking back, Dayang could have contracted tuberculosis when she went home to an illegal immigrant colony in Kota Kinabalu – where her family stays in crowded and poorly ventilated rooms, recalls Mrs Chung, a mother of two.

Dayang’s case is not an isolated one.

The mingling of illegal immigrants and foreign workers is a big worry to the Government.

Mandatory health screening may be able to pick up cases like Dayang’s but not everybody is like Mrs Chung.

It was reported in Sabah in 2007 that 52,000 foreign workers in the state underwent screening in the first quarter of 2006, but only half of them went for a second screening in the first quarter of the following year. The mandatory screening covers three rounds, the third and last one is before the end of the second year of employment.

Compounding the problem of non-compliance with the screening is the estimated 500,000 or more illegal immigrants in Sabah.

In the case of Dayang, it is quite obvious that she contracted tuberculosis from her family members and friends who are illegal immigrants.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai has urged employers not to take the screening lightly. Workers must also be provided with proper housing and given enough rest, he adds.

While only six diseases are slotted for mandatory screening – hepatitis, tuberculosis, sexual diseases, HIV/AIDS, malaria and leprosy – Liow says the ministry is also monitoring other diseases as well.

“Our infectious diseases surveillance systems exist at national, state and district levels. Currently, there are 27 infectious diseases that are designated as notifiable under the Prevention and Control of Infectious Disease Act 1988 and requires mandatory notification,” he adds.

“Some of these diseases are non-existent but we (ministry) are not taking the situation lightly,” Liow says, referring to diseases like acute poliomyelitis, plague, yellow fever, ebola and rabies.

Last but not least, the minister says employers must remain vigilant at all times and send their foreign workers for treatment if they notice something amiss.

Return of diseases linked to foreign workers - Star(22/6/2009)

Monday June 22, 2009

Return of diseases linked to foreign workers

PUTRAJAYA: Infectious diseases like tuberculosis and leprosy which almost disappeared in Malaysia since two decades ago have made a comeback and this can be traced to the millions of foreign workers and illegal immigrants in the country.

There were 16,325 confirmed cases of tuberculosis (14,275 Malaysians and 2,050 foreigners) last year, second only to dengue fever with 17,047 confirmed cases.

Of the 152 confirmed leprosy cases last year, 99 were Malaysians and 53 foreigners.

The two diseases are among the 27 infectious diseases in the Health Ministry’s radar.

Minister Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai said the rising incidence of tuberculosis could be attributed to, among others, foreign workers and illegal immigrants.

“A total of 10,517 foreign workers failed to get their work permits last year because they had tuberculosis. They made up 28% of the 37,503 who were declared unfit for work permits that year,” Liow told The Star.

But what worries him is the estimated one million or more illegal immigrants – often referred to as “illegal foreign workers” – in the country.

“What we (ministry) are concerned about are the infectious diseases among the illegals which may serve as a hidden source of infection to our local population.

“It can be any type of disease – the existing ones, new ones or even those already wiped out in Malaysia,” he lamented.

Liow pointed out that disease transmission could get out of hand when foreign workers mingled with illegal immigrants.

Although the authorities were monitoring the situation, Liow urged employers to ensure that their foreign workers sought early treatment if they were unwell.

He also reminded them to provide the foreign workers with decent housing and give them adequate rest.

There are an estimated one million illegal immigrants in Malaysia, mostly Indonesians, Filipinos, Bangladeshis, Myanmars and Indians, but many believe the numbers may be higher.

There were 74,134 cases of confirmed infectious diseases in Malaysia last year. Of these, 68,424 were Malaysians and 5,710 foreigners.

And 2,050 or 36% of the 5,710 foreigners had tuberculosis.

Liow said between 7.2% and 8.1% of notified cases of infectious diseases between 2005 and 2008 involved foreigners.

------------------

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI

Joint Statement- 19/6/2009

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAW AUNG SAN SUU KYI

RELEASE IMMEDIATELY AND UNCONDITIONALLY ALL POLITICAL PRISONERS IN BURMA

On the occasion of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s 64th birthday that falls on 19th June 2009, we, the undersigned reiterate our call for the immediate and unconditional release of Aung San Suu Kyi and all other political prisoners and prisoners of conscience in Burma.

After achieving its independence from the British in 1948, Burma was ruled by a democratically elected government until the 1962 army coup.

Finally, the military junta agreed to hold elections in 1990, and return Burma to a parliamentary democracy. But the run-up to the elections inspired little confidence in the process. Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the most popular opposition party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), was placed under house arrest in July 1989. Many other senior NLD officials were jailed. The NLD had little access to media and few resources compared to the military-backed National Unity Party (NUP).

On 27th May 1990, the Election Results revealed that out of the 485 parliamentary seats contested, the NLD won 392 (over 80%). Ethnic minority parties opposed to the military junta won 65 more seats. The military-backed NUP only won 10 seats. It was clear indication that peoples of Burma rejected military rule.

The military junta's response to this overwhelming defeat was simply to change the rules, and not hand over power to duly elected Aung San Suu Kyi and the NLD. Repression intensified, and many NLD and other elected representatives were arrested. Some have died in prison. Others fled into exile. Today, in Malaysia, it is estimated that there may be more than 500,000 Burmese undocumented migrants,

We call for the immediate handing over of power from the military regime to the duly elected Aung San Suu Kyi and the elected representatives.

We reiterate our call for the immediate discontinuation of the trial, and withdrawal of the charges against Aung San Suu Kyi who has been absurdly charged and is now being tried for the offence of breaking the terms of her house arrest, in particular the condition that forbids visitors, after an American man, swam across the lake and entered her house uninvited and refused to leave.

We call for ASEAN and ASEAN member governments, to immediately intervene and urge the government of Burma to respect human rights, and to adhere to the numerous United Nations resolutions, including General Assembly Resolution 49/197 [1995], which, amongst others, “…call on the Government of Myanmar to release unconditionally and immediately the Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, who is now in her sixth year of detention without trial, and other political leaders and remaining political prisoners…’

We also call on the United Nations(UN), the European Union(EU) and all concerned nations to act for the immediate withdrawal of this absurd charge, to secure the immediate and unconditional release of all political detainees and to restore democracy and human rights to Burma and its peoples.

Lastly, and most importantly, we wish Daw Aung San Suu Kyi Happy Birthday, and wish for her and the peoples of Burma the strength and the continued commitment to struggle for a better Burma, where human rights, justice and democracy exist.

Pranom Somwong

Charles Hector

for and on behalf of the following 21 organisations,

Bar Council Human Rights Committee

Burma Campaign, Malaysia

Community Development Services, Sri Lanka

Development Action for Women Network (DAWN), Philippines

Empower Foundation, Thailand

Foundation for Women, Law and Rural Development (FORWARD), Thailand

Friends of Burma, Malaysia

Grassroots-HRE,Thailand

Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW), Cambodia

MADPET (Malaysians against Death Penalty and Torture)

MAP Foundation, Thailand

Mekong Ecumenical Partnership Program, Christian Conference of Asia(MEPP)

Myanmar Refugee Volunteer Group (MRVG)

National League for Democracy (NLD),LA, Malaysia

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM)

Society for Christian Reflection (SCR)

Suara Rakyat Malaysia (SUARAM), Malaysia

Tenaganita, Malaysia

Women's Studies Center,Thailand

Workers Hub For Change (WH4C)

Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association

2nd Two Destinations One Origin Conference held

2nd Two Destinations One Origin Conference held

Monday, 15 June 2009 04:55

Thailand based NGOs and community based organizations in Malaysia got together to hold the second “Two Destinations One Origin Conference” from 5th to 7th June, 2009 in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The participants from different organizations in both Thailand and Malaysia mainly discussed migrant workers’ issues and shared their experiences about migrant issues. In an interview last Friday 12th June 2009, Ms. Po Po, the deputy director of Grassroots – HRE based in Phang Nga province of South Thailand, shared what she discussed in the conference. Q. Which NGOs organized the second “Two Destinations One Origin Conference”? A. Thailand based Migrant Assistant Programme (MAP) Foundation and Malaysia based Workers Hub for Change and Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM) organized the programme together. Q. How many social organizations in Malaysia attended the conference? A. National League for Democracy (Liberated Area) Malaysia, Burma Campaign Malaysia, Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM), Multination Women’s Organization of Burma, Myanmar Refugee Volunteer Group (MRVG) and a Shan Refugee Organization attended the conference. Thailand based MAP Foundation and Malaysia based Workers Hub for Change also attended the conference. Q. What did you discuss in the conference? A. We mainly discussed the situation of migrant workers in both Thailand and Malaysia. All the NGOs and organizations at the conference mutually evaluated the problem that migrants have to face and encounter during the global economic crisis and the policies and principles that the respective governments coded for migrant workers. Q. What topics did the Malaysia based community organizations discuss in the conference? A. They discussed workers’ rights, for example, how the Malaysian outsourcing companies and firm owners oppress and exploit legal migrant workers and how the migrant workers have their rights abused. We discussed these issues very clearly so they could be understood in detail. Following that, the Malaysian based organizations could effectively exchange information about how the migrant workers in Malaysian detention and deportation centers are being oppressed by authorities in those centers. In my opinion, the Malaysia based organizations are working the best they can but I think that if they put in stronger efforts to work in balance and harmony within their networks, they’d find a better way to solve the problem of migrants. Q. Did you discuss the recent death of two Burmese migrant workers in a Malaysian detention center at the conference? A. Yes, we mentioned this case as an example when we were discussing our future action plan about how we can work with the respective authorities for fair and just detention and deportation. The issue of how to stop detentions and deportations has been published in Mek Khong migration publications. As a consequence, we must share this knowledge among the workers’ environment so that they know what their rights are. Then they themselves can call for their rights to be respected and we can increase pressure on the government through united efforts. We talked a lot about this. Q. I heard a joint statement was issued after the conference. What did you call on in the statement? A. We called on the Malaysian government to immediately stop the unjust, discriminatory and unconstitutional policy and practice, known as ‘Foreign Workers First Out’ (FWFO) principle. According to this policy migrant workers must lose their jobs before local workers regardless of the length of time they’ve been in the job and we called on Malaysia and Thailand to demand that all employers fulfill their contractual agreements with regard to all workers, including foreign workers. Employers must not use the economic crisis as an excuse to dismiss workers or close down factories without adequate notice to the workers. Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that employers pay workers adequate and just compensation for any early termination of employment agreement. Q. Where did you send it to, to which authorized organizations? A. The statement is currently only in the hands of NGOs. But, we’ll send it to the Thai government, Malaysian government and the ASEAN. Q. May I know how your organization is working with the networks of Malaysia based organizations? A. This is the first time that I attended the conference of our networks. Grassroots – HRE works together with Action Network for Migrants (ANM), the Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM) and other Thailand and Malaysia based organizations which are working for migrants in both countries. However, this year we discussed becoming a stronger network for the welfare of our people, how we can support the migrants and each other, how we can approach the governments and how to work towards changing their principles and policy of migrant workers. However, at this initial stage we could only exchange our experiences and give advice to each other. We talked about linking with more networks to become a better, stronger one. Q. How will you keep on your work as an NGO based in Thailand with the connection of Malaysia based organizations? A. We’ll keep putting pressure on the governments. We’ll work and coordinate with local organizations in Malaysia. We’ll let the two governments know about the situation of migrant workers and their issues. We’ll call on the ASEAN to also put pressure on the two governments. We hope that our efforts concerning the migrant issue will catch the interest of international governments. Q. Grassroots – HRE is a legally registered non-government organization in Thailand. The Malaysia based organizations are not legally registered ones so they may face some difficulties in their work. As deputy director of Grassroots-HRE do you have an opinion on this or any advice to give? A. Yes, they might have some difficulties. The organizations themselves are not in documented status. It is very difficult for such organizations to help undocumented migrant workers. I understand their situation. However, if all the organizations connect with each other and work together in unity they’ll be able to help to some degree. At the same time, the undocumented ones need to organize and stimulate the registered ones to work and support them. Q. Do you have anything else to say to the Burmese migrant workers in Malaysia? A. I don’t want to separate the workers in Thailand or in Malaysia as they are all the same. The Burmese migrant workers are spreading out to different places in the countries. Although I’m talking about the workers in Malaysia and Thailand, I also want to urge all the workers in the other countries to unite and help each other, try to know your rights and call on governments to respect your rights. If you yourself don’t stand up for your rights, who will stand up for you? If someone else defends your rights on your behalf, there chance of achieving our goal is reduced. I want to urge them all to unite and work in balance and harmony. Source: Grassroots Human Rights Education & Development Website

Prachathai (16/6/2009): JOINT STATEMENT of Migrants from Burma Working In Thailand and Malaysia

JOINT STATEMENT

of

Migrants from Burma

Working In

Thailand and Malaysia

Tue, 09/06/2009 - 19:45

We, migrants from Burma, live in a perpetual state of crisis and the global economic crisis is further adding to our difficult and sometimes desperate situation.

We, migrants from Burma and migrant support groups, trade union leaders and human rights activists and lawyers from Thailand and Malaysia, met and discussed the impact of the global economic crisis on Burmese migrant workers at the 2nd Two Destinations One Origin Conference organized jointly by MAP Foundation (Thailand), Workers Hub for Change (WH4C) and Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM). We are concerned that Burmese migrants live in a perpetual state of crisis and that the global economic crisis is further adding to their difficult and sometimes desperate situation. We therefore appeal to the governments of Malaysia, Thailand and the ASEAN on the following issues.

We are concerned that Thailand and Malaysia governments’ response to the situation of workers affected by the economic crisis has not been comprehensive and does not provide adequate protection for workers. Migrant workers are not even included in these programs and are thus expected to deal with the impact of the economic crisis by themselves.

We call on the Malaysian government to immediately stop the unjust, discriminatory and unconstitutional policy and practice, known as ‘Foreign Workers First Out’ (FWFO) principle. According to this policy migrant workers lose their jobs before local workers regardless of length of time in the job.

We call on Malaysia and Thailand to demand that all employers fulfill their contractual agreements with regard to all workers, including foreign workers. Employers must not use the economic crisis as an excuse to dismiss workers or close down factories without adequate notice to the workers. Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that employers pay workers adequate and just compensation for any early termination of employment agreement.

The social protections provided during these times of economic crisis to retrenched workers which include payment of 50% of salary for six months in Thailand and re-training and new job placements in Malaysia should be extended to cover all workers including migrant workers.

We ask the governments to ensure that employers of migrant workers bear all the costs of employing migrant workers. Employers in Malaysia should not make deductions from migrants wages to cover the levy that employers have to pay. Employers in Thailand should not make deductions from migrants wages to cover the registration fee that employers have to pay. The only permissible deductions should be with regards to social security schemes for workers.

We are deeply concerned that all workers wages are falling below a living wage. For migrants the impact of a further reduction may have severe repercussions on the well-being of the workers and their families in Burma who rely on these wages for survival and for settling the debts incurred in the migration process.

Burmese migrants in both Malaysia and Thailand have reported accidents in the workplace due to the sub-standard occupational health and safety standards and enforcement. We call for the governments of Thailand and Malaysia to ensure that employers do not take shortcuts on matters concerning health and safety of workers and to facilitate migrants’ access to the legal mechanisms to receive compensation when accidents do occur. Migrants should also have the freedom of association.

Thailand and Malaysia’s health systems are trying to cope with new and different health issues such as H1NI, Chirkungya, Leptospirosis and Avian flu. In these times of economic crisis, it is imperative that no sector of society be excluded from the right to health. We call on the Thai and Malaysia government to set up effective national free universal health care systems without exceptions, and to work closely with migrant communities for health promotion.

The future of our region depends on the education of the children, and the children of migrant workers must be included in this future. We call for the governments of Malaysia and Thailand to support the education of migrant children in both formal and non-formal education systems.

All migrants have a precarious legal status in Malaysia and Thailand. The majority of migrants are completely undocumented while those with legal or semi-legal status too easily lose their status. Migrants can become illegal by reason of poor policy and practice, by negligence on the part of government officials, by irresponsible actions of the employers or when the migrants attempt to fight for their rights.

Consequently all migrants risk arrest, detention and deportation or threats thereof. We are deeply concerned about the recent reports of deaths of migrants in detention in Malaysia, deaths which could have been avoided with proper access to health care.

Due to the on-going multiple crises in Burma at the hands of an illegal regime, migrants from Burma are forced to leave the country without any preparation, information, safety or documents. The governments of Thailand and Malaysia need to recognize and respond to this reality and ensure that Burmese migrants are not criminalized.

In Thailand, the new registration is a welcome move however we are concerned that forcing migrants to work only within one sector is contrary to all labour rights principles.

We therefore call on Malaysia and Thailand to devise programs which protect the rights of migrants and ensure that migrants can exercise their labour, social, cultural, economic and political rights.

Lastly, we call on the ASEAN and its member nations to abandon their constructive engagement policy with the Burmese regime which only serves to prolong the injustice in Burma.

Mizzima:- Burmese migrants in Thailand and Malaysia demand equal rights

Burmese migrants working in Thailand and Malaysia have released a joint statement on the impact of the global economic crisis on Burmese migrant workers, urging relevant governments to address their concerns.

Burmese migrants, support groups, trade union leaders, human rights activists and lawyers from Thailand and Malaysia noted in a statement released on Tuesday following a conference in Bangkok that the Thai and Malaysian governments’ response to the situation of migrant workers affected by the economic crisis has not been comprehensive, failing to provide adequate protection for workers.

“Migrant workers are not even included in these [economic assistance] programs and are thus expected to deal with the impact of the economic crisis by themselves,” according to the release.

“Employers must not use the economic crisis as an excuse to dismiss workers or close down factories without adequate notice to the workers,” added the group.

They also noted that employers currently fail to adequately compensate migrant workers, calling for the establishment of a mechanism to ensure just compensation in addition to appealing for equal access to programs aimed at lessening hardship stemming from the economic crisis.

Specifically, the group seeks the abolition of Malaysia’s ‘Foreign Workers First Out’ principle – a policy necessitating migrant workers lose their jobs before local workers in times of crisis regardless of time on the job.

Burmese migrants in both Malaysia and Thailand have also reported accidents in the workplace due to sub-standard occupational health and safety standards and enforcement.

“The governments of Thailand and Malaysia should ensure that employers do not take shortcuts on matters concerning health and safety of workers and facilitate migrants’ access to the legal mechanisms to receive compensation when accidents do occur,” argues the consortium.

Further, due to the undocumented status of many parents, migrant children often have difficulty in accessing education. As a result, the group calls for the governments of both countries to support the education of migrant children in both formal and non-formal education systems.

The group is additionally concerned for those migrants lacking official status or without full status. In such an atmosphere, without proper protective mechanisms in place, it is said migrants can be subjected to the arbitrary decisions or desires of employers and governments alike.

Because of their lack of protection, migrants face an increased risk of arrest, detention and deportation. “We are deeply concerned about the recent reports of deaths of migrants in detention in Malaysia, deaths which could have been avoided with proper access to health care,” stipulate the aggrieved.

The statement concluded by calling for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its constituent parts to abandon their constructive engagement policy toward the Burmese regime which, they contend, serves merely to prolong the injustice in Burma.

The joint declaration followed the second Two Destinations One Origin Conference organized by the MAP Foundation (Thailand), Workers Hub for Change (WH4C) and Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM).

Source: Mizzima, 10/6/2009, Burmese migrants in Thailand and Malaysia demand equal rights

NAMM and MAP call for halt to unjust, discriminatory and unconstitutional policies on migrants (Irrawady)

Malaysian authorities have arrested about 100 Burmese migrant workers in their latest crackdown on foreign labor.

The arrested migrants include 50 Mon, according to Roi Mon, joint chairman of the Mon Refugee Organization. Twenty Karen are among the arrested Burmese, said Mahn Sein Than, chairman of the Karen Refugee Organization.

Hundreds of other Burmese migrants who escaped arrest have cut their working hours drastically because of fears of new raids. The current crackdown began on June 1.

About 1,000 Burmese migrants work in restaurants and other businesses in one area alone of Kuala Lumpur’s Chinatown, in Petaling Street.

Malaysian authorities have reportedly threatened restaurant owners in Petaling Street that their licenses will be cancelled if they are found to employ foreign workers. “There are longer any Burmese working in the restaurants there,” said Roi Mon.

One Burmese woman, War Yu, said: Two of my friends had to return to Burma last week because they were laid off.”

According to the Kuala Lumpur-based Burma Workers’ Rights Protection Committee, about 500,000 Burmese migrants work in Malaysia, legally and illegally.

The Malaysian government announced last December that the country no longer needs foreign labor and stepped up its efforts to deport migrant workers.

Meanwhile, the Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia and MAP Foundation in Thailand have called on the Malaysian and Thailand governments to protect the rights of Burmese migrants and ensure that migrants can exercise their labor, social, cultural, economic and political rights.

The groups called in a joint statement, released yesterday, for a halt to unjust, discriminatory and unconstitutional policies on migrants. Burmese migrants were in a desperate situation because of the global economic crisis, they said. - Irrawady, Thursday, June 11, 2009,Burmese Migrant Workers Arrested in Malaysian Crackdown

JOINT STATEMENT of Migrants from Burma Working In Thailand and Malaysia (9/6/2009)

JOINT STATEMENT of Migrants from Burma
Working In Thailand and Malaysia
June 9 2009

We, migrants from Burma, live in a perpetual state of crisis and the global economic crisis is further adding to our difficult and sometimes desperate situation

We, migrants from Burma and migrant support groups, trade union leaders and human rights activists and lawyers from Thailand and Malaysia, met and discussed the impact of the global economic crisis on Burmese migrant workers at the 2^nd Two Destinations One Origin Conference organized jointly by MAP Foundation (Thailand), Workers Hub for Change (WH4C) and Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM). We are concerned that Burmese migrants live in a perpetual state of crisis and that the global economic crisis is further adding to their difficult and sometimes desperate situation. We therefore appeal to the governments of Malaysia, Thailand and the ASEAN on the following issues.

We are concerned that Thailand and Malaysia governments’ response to the situation of workers affected by the economic crisis has not been comprehensive and does not provide adequate protection for workers. Migrant workers are not even included in these programs and are thus expected to deal with the impact of the economic crisis by themselves.We call on the Malaysian government to immediately stop the unjust, discriminatory and unconstitutional policy and practice, known as ‘Foreign Workers First Out’ (FWFO) principle. According to this policy migrant workers lose their jobs before local workers regardless of length of time in the job.

We call on Malaysia and Thailand to demand that all employers fulfill their contractual agreements with regard to all workers, including foreign workers. Employers must not use the economic crisis as an excuse to dismiss workers or close down factories without adequate notice to the workers. Mechanisms should be put in place to ensure that employers pay workers adequate and just compensation for any early termination of employment agreement.

The social protections provided during these times of economic crisis to retrenched workers which include payment of 50% of salary for six months in Thailand and re-training and new job placements in Malaysia should be extended to cover all workers including migrant workers.

We ask the governments to ensure that employers of migrant workers bear all the costs of employing migrant workers. Employers in Malaysia should not make deductions from migrants wages to cover the levy that employers have to pay. Employers in Thailand should not make deductions from migrants wages to cover the registration fee that employers have to pay. The only permissible deductions should be with regards to social security schemes for workers.

We are deeply concerned that all workers wages are falling below a living wage. For migrants the impact of a further reduction may have severe repercussions on the well-being of the workers and their families in Burma who rely on these wages for survival and for settling the debts incurred in the migration process.

Burmese migrants in both Malaysia and Thailand have reported accidents in the workplace due to the sub-standard occupational health and safety standards and enforcement. We call for the governments of Thailand and Malaysia to ensure that employers do not take shortcuts on matters concerning health and safety of workers and to facilitate migrants’ access to the legal mechanisms to receive compensation when accidents do occur. Migrants should also have the freedom of association.

Thailand and Malaysia’s health systems are trying to cope with new and different health issues such as H1NI, Chirkungya, Leptospirosis and Avian flu. In these times of economic crisis, it is imperative that no sector of society be excluded from the right to health. We call on the Thai and Malaysia government to set up effective national free universal health care systems without exceptions, and to work closely with migrant communities for health promotion.

The future of our region depends on the education of the children, and the children of migrant workers must be included in this future. We call for the governments of Malaysia and Thailand to support the education of migrant children in both formal and non-formal education systems.

All migrants have a precarious legal status in Malaysia and Thailand. The majority of migrants are completely undocumented while those with legal or semi-legal status too easily lose their status. Migrants can become illegal by reason of poor policy and practice, by negligence on the part of government officials, by irresponsible actions of the employers or when the migrants attempt to fight for their rights.

Consequently all migrants risk arrest, detention and deportation or threats thereof. We are deeply concerned about the recent reports of deaths of migrants in detention in Malaysia, deaths which could have been avoided with proper access to health care.

Due to the on-going multiple crises in Burma at the hands of an illegal regime, migrants from Burma are forced to leave the country without any preparation, information, safety or documents. The governments of Thailand and Malaysia need to recognize and respond to this reality and ensure that Burmese migrants are not criminalized.

In Thailand, the new registration is a welcome move however we are concerned that forcing migrants to work only within one sector is contrary to all labour rights principles.

We therefore call on Malaysia and Thailand to devise programs which protect the rights of migrants and ensure that migrants can exercise their labour, social, cultural, economic and political rights.

Lastly, we call on the ASEAN and its member nations to abandon their constructive engagement policy with the Burmese regime which only serves to prolong the injustice in Burma.


For further information please contact:

Network of Action for Migrants in Malaysia (NAMM): Ms Pranom Somwong (+6019 2371300)
MAP Foundation: Ms Jackie Pollock (+66860904118; twodestinations@yahoo.com)