In last Novermber, Thailand started a new visa policy to regulate re-entering of migrant workers for a certain period of time
The content of the regulation: "The policy states that one can only stay in Thailand for 90 days in a period of six months, after which one must leave the country and stay outside for another 90 days before they can re-enter."
Reason (1) Screening the movement of foriegners in Thailand: "who is coming and going, for how long, and with what frequency"
Reason (2) Sweeping out ill-mannered foriegn workers who are engaed with "human trafficking, paedophilia, child pornography and so on"
Reason (3) Promoting tougher immigration control on illegal migrant workers without valid status to work or to stay in Thailand
Intention: Doing a "visa run" - crossing one of the borders of Thailand into Burma, Cambodia, Laos or Malaysia is very often. Thailand probably created the new regulation to keep "sociopaths and criminals" away.
Problem: This regulation would hamper some humanitraian activites over borders, because they suffer from regsitration costs or inefficiency or inconveinence of renewal. On the other hand, sociopaths and criminals often shortly stay, and could be engaged with some syndicates, which meas this policy might be be so efficient.
*Oh, I feel headache, when I imagine how much Thailand immigration authorities are struggling with those kinds of criminals.
Resourece: "THAILAND COMMENTARY - NEW VISA REGULATIONS MAY NOT BE WELL THOUGHT OUT," Thai Press Report, November 9, 2006. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/
Thursday, April 19, 2007
Inefficiency of documentation of migrant workers in Thailand
Accroding to Bankok Post, because labor regulation in Thailand on migrant workers is poor, documented migrant workers often neglect on renewing their legal status.
One researcher suggests some risks
Phenomenon: it is just inconvenient for the migrant workers in some particular industrial sectors such as fishery or agriculture to renew their status. Some of them have to work on the sea for several months. Some of them are just sesonal migrant workers only step by during harvest seasons.
(1) This might make them vulnerable to exploitation by their employers, because the employers can seize their documnets.
(2) Also, medical claims by undocumented people would be expensive.
(3) They would easily be arrested by police, because their legal status is illegal.
Statistical Transition of the Number of Documented Aliens from Burma, Laos and Cambodia.
2001 > 568,249
2002> 430,074
2003> 288,780
2004> 838,943 (this sharp increase was caused by new regulation that requires family member registration )
2005> 460,014
The National Fisheries Association of Thailand are suffering from its labor shortage, because ,,,
(1) undocumented migrant workers just seek new employment without completing their term.
(2) employers who accept undocumented labourers are to be punished.
(3) illegal migrant workers could be deported anytime.
*In my opinion, it seems so difficult to assume the cost to promote the documentation of illegal workers.
Resource: "THAILAND NUMBER OF MIGRANT WORKERS SEEKING WORK PERMIT RENEWALS STEADILY DECLINES DUE TO POOR LABOUR REGULATIONS, RESEARCHER SAYS" Thai Press Report, April 4, 2007. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/
One researcher suggests some risks
Phenomenon: it is just inconvenient for the migrant workers in some particular industrial sectors such as fishery or agriculture to renew their status. Some of them have to work on the sea for several months. Some of them are just sesonal migrant workers only step by during harvest seasons.
(1) This might make them vulnerable to exploitation by their employers, because the employers can seize their documnets.
(2) Also, medical claims by undocumented people would be expensive.
(3) They would easily be arrested by police, because their legal status is illegal.
Statistical Transition of the Number of Documented Aliens from Burma, Laos and Cambodia.
2001 > 568,249
2002> 430,074
2003> 288,780
2004> 838,943 (this sharp increase was caused by new regulation that requires family member registration )
2005> 460,014
The National Fisheries Association of Thailand are suffering from its labor shortage, because ,,,
(1) undocumented migrant workers just seek new employment without completing their term.
(2) employers who accept undocumented labourers are to be punished.
(3) illegal migrant workers could be deported anytime.
*In my opinion, it seems so difficult to assume the cost to promote the documentation of illegal workers.
Resource: "THAILAND NUMBER OF MIGRANT WORKERS SEEKING WORK PERMIT RENEWALS STEADILY DECLINES DUE TO POOR LABOUR REGULATIONS, RESEARCHER SAYS" Thai Press Report, April 4, 2007. http://web.lexis-nexis.com/
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
Burmese Immigration
Currently, there is serious tention between Thailand and Burma in term of mass influx of Burmese immigratns into Thailand, even though Thailand is the largest trading partner.
Closure of Thai-Burmese borders might be closed, because the securituy there is very fragile. Thai rangeron the borders got killed on March 21 in a grenade explosion, which proved the security there is problematic. A Thailand's immigration office that is away from only 50 meters was broken too. The area is also near conflict zone between the Burmese government and the Shan State Army (SSA).
"Immigration office raided as tensions on border persist"
Cheewin Sattha & Subin Kheunkaew. The Bangkok Post. Bangkok: Apr 1, 2007. pg. 1
Burmese immigrants can come to neighbering relatively developed countries. The way they come to those countries might be SMUGGLING. Thailand, Chiang Rai, is planning the Royal Flora Expo. There was an event that the local police intercepted a caravan of 10 vans taking almost 100 illegal Burmese immigrants to Chiang Mai. Accoringt to the resource that I picked up, they tend to work on construction sites and in factories.
4,000 baht makes drivers to "pick up the aliens at Mae Sai district and take them to the expo."
Some of the arrested Burmese claimed to have paid 4,000 baht each for the week-long tour to Chiang Mai. Illegal immigratns are only to be detained and deported.
However, people such as Burmese immigratns going to Thailands might support your county a lot.
"Illegal Burmese found in vans"
The Bangkok Post. Bangkok: Jan 8, 2007. pg. 1
Closure of Thai-Burmese borders might be closed, because the securituy there is very fragile. Thai rangeron the borders got killed on March 21 in a grenade explosion, which proved the security there is problematic. A Thailand's immigration office that is away from only 50 meters was broken too. The area is also near conflict zone between the Burmese government and the Shan State Army (SSA).
"Immigration office raided as tensions on border persist"
Cheewin Sattha & Subin Kheunkaew. The Bangkok Post. Bangkok: Apr 1, 2007. pg. 1
Burmese immigrants can come to neighbering relatively developed countries. The way they come to those countries might be SMUGGLING. Thailand, Chiang Rai, is planning the Royal Flora Expo. There was an event that the local police intercepted a caravan of 10 vans taking almost 100 illegal Burmese immigrants to Chiang Mai. Accoringt to the resource that I picked up, they tend to work on construction sites and in factories.
4,000 baht makes drivers to "pick up the aliens at Mae Sai district and take them to the expo."
Some of the arrested Burmese claimed to have paid 4,000 baht each for the week-long tour to Chiang Mai. Illegal immigratns are only to be detained and deported.
However, people such as Burmese immigratns going to Thailands might support your county a lot.
"Illegal Burmese found in vans"
The Bangkok Post. Bangkok: Jan 8, 2007. pg. 1
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Ranking of Asian Counries
According to the National Wages and Productivity Commision of Phillipine, Phillipine ranked No. 11 among Asian countries in 2005. Its average producticity of $663.80, the third lowest among East Asian countries. It's only higher than Cambodia and Vietnam (Burma and East Timor excluded). The highest is Hong Kong ($56,254.66) and Singapore ($47,621.51).
Labor productivity is the average output per employed person. It is computed by dividing the annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the number of employed people.
Phillipine seems a little bit upset about it, and therefore, has to improve thier productivity.
Resorce: "DOLE RP MUST HIKE PRODUCTIVITY"
Financial Times, Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 12, 2007.
Labor productivity is the average output per employed person. It is computed by dividing the annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by the number of employed people.
Phillipine seems a little bit upset about it, and therefore, has to improve thier productivity.
Resorce: "DOLE RP MUST HIKE PRODUCTIVITY"
Financial Times, Philippine Daily Inquirer, March 12, 2007.
Apparel Transaction between US and Burma
Around the time that the Clinton Administration banned new investment on Myanmar, Pentagon was importing about $138,290 in clothing. Some criticized that such transactions are probrelmatic in terms of human rights.
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service had traded with Myanmar whille the administration was focsusing on human rights violation in the country in October . Critics outraged, because the transaction would help the junta that was causing human rights violations.
According to a spokes man, the US military branch had $ 7.3 billion in sales last year (1999?) at 1,400 stores. He said ''We're aware of the sanctions against Burma, but they have nothing to do with the sale or purchase of goods or services. What they have to do with are new investments, which we're not involved with.''
It was 1997, an economic sanction was impoed on Myanmar by the Clinton administration, even though trade with Myanmar itseled was not being denied by law at the time.
The transaction was largely increased by American apparel industry that could benefit low-waged labor.
Because,,,
"Myanmar's apparel workers earn just 8 cents an hour, making them among the world's lowest paid manufacturing workers."
Maybe, this information can help you imagine how cheap Burmese wage is, even though uniformed information about it has no been seen.
In the first nin months 2000, US apparel industry imported $308 million in goods from Myanmar, which was almost twice sized transaction if compared with the same period of last year. The branch "had about 10, 000 pounds garments made by the Newest Garment Manufarcturing Company sent from Yangon, formerly Rangoon, to Los Angels, arriving Oct. 19.
"
The president was trying to deny any economic transaction with Myanmar, becasue the junta kept ignoring a result of national election, victory for Democracy.
The critics against the transaction insisted ''The 1997 U.S. sanctions law on new investment in Burma primarily was clearly intended to deprive the Burmese military junta of funds with which to perpetuate human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing campaigns and to pressure the junta into commencing a dialogue with Suu Kyi's political party and ethnic minorities. Unfortunately, the new surge in apparel exports to the U.S. undermines the spirit of that law, allowing the regime to enrich itself and take advantage of unsuspecting American consumers.''
Resorce: "Burmese Sales To the PX Are Provoking Rights Protest" NY times Dec 19, 2000
The Army and Air Force Exchange Service had traded with Myanmar whille the administration was focsusing on human rights violation in the country in October . Critics outraged, because the transaction would help the junta that was causing human rights violations.
According to a spokes man, the US military branch had $ 7.3 billion in sales last year (1999?) at 1,400 stores. He said ''We're aware of the sanctions against Burma, but they have nothing to do with the sale or purchase of goods or services. What they have to do with are new investments, which we're not involved with.''
It was 1997, an economic sanction was impoed on Myanmar by the Clinton administration, even though trade with Myanmar itseled was not being denied by law at the time.
The transaction was largely increased by American apparel industry that could benefit low-waged labor.
Because,,,
"Myanmar's apparel workers earn just 8 cents an hour, making them among the world's lowest paid manufacturing workers."
Maybe, this information can help you imagine how cheap Burmese wage is, even though uniformed information about it has no been seen.
In the first nin months 2000, US apparel industry imported $308 million in goods from Myanmar, which was almost twice sized transaction if compared with the same period of last year. The branch "had about 10, 000 pounds garments made by the Newest Garment Manufarcturing Company sent from Yangon, formerly Rangoon, to Los Angels, arriving Oct. 19.
"
The president was trying to deny any economic transaction with Myanmar, becasue the junta kept ignoring a result of national election, victory for Democracy.
The critics against the transaction insisted ''The 1997 U.S. sanctions law on new investment in Burma primarily was clearly intended to deprive the Burmese military junta of funds with which to perpetuate human rights abuses and ethnic cleansing campaigns and to pressure the junta into commencing a dialogue with Suu Kyi's political party and ethnic minorities. Unfortunately, the new surge in apparel exports to the U.S. undermines the spirit of that law, allowing the regime to enrich itself and take advantage of unsuspecting American consumers.''
Resorce: "Burmese Sales To the PX Are Provoking Rights Protest" NY times Dec 19, 2000
Bilateral Relatioship between Burma and Malaysia (1)
According to the resource sited below, Burma was trying to strengthen bilateral relationship with Malaysia in areas of "Utility Management, Health, Education, Information and Communication Technology, Agriculture and Trade and Investment" in 2002.
The conferece about technology between representations of SPDC (junta of Myanmar) and high rank officials of Malaysia that was reported on 21 Augast, 2002 went well. And its success factor was that the high level representations and enterpreneurs attended in the counference.
Such a bilateral relationship should be regarded by dynamism of reagional integration, ASEAN (at least ASEAN plus 3 or even 4? I don't know). Economic interdependance is unavoidable in Globalization.
This conference's intention was to promote the advantages of Globalization with cooperation between academic sector andn private sector, and to lessen risk of negative effect of it. Myanmar's Econ is based on Agriculture, but it could not sustain it forever, and would need sustainable development anyway.
For the sustainable development, Burma needs to advance its own utilities, and therefore, they need "rapid advancement in technology." Overcomng development gap or hurman resorces' risk of survival is required in the dynamism.
The leaders who attended the conferecne confirmed that strengthinning the relationship between the two countries would contributes to intra-ASEAN trade and investments or regional collabolation. Maybe, such regional interests could cover the Burma fragile economy and collect investment to Burma.
Resource: The New Light of Myanmar web site, Rangoon, in English 21 Aug 02/BBC Monitoring/(c) BBC
The conferece about technology between representations of SPDC (junta of Myanmar) and high rank officials of Malaysia that was reported on 21 Augast, 2002 went well. And its success factor was that the high level representations and enterpreneurs attended in the counference.
Such a bilateral relationship should be regarded by dynamism of reagional integration, ASEAN (at least ASEAN plus 3 or even 4? I don't know). Economic interdependance is unavoidable in Globalization.
This conference's intention was to promote the advantages of Globalization with cooperation between academic sector andn private sector, and to lessen risk of negative effect of it. Myanmar's Econ is based on Agriculture, but it could not sustain it forever, and would need sustainable development anyway.
For the sustainable development, Burma needs to advance its own utilities, and therefore, they need "rapid advancement in technology." Overcomng development gap or hurman resorces' risk of survival is required in the dynamism.
The leaders who attended the conferecne confirmed that strengthinning the relationship between the two countries would contributes to intra-ASEAN trade and investments or regional collabolation. Maybe, such regional interests could cover the Burma fragile economy and collect investment to Burma.
Resource: The New Light of Myanmar web site, Rangoon, in English 21 Aug 02/BBC Monitoring/(c) BBC
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
Paper 2 Preparation (1) Economic Agreement
Since 2001, Myanmar and China bilateraly started having several economic agreements in areas such as fishery, investment protection, agriculture, natural & human resources, and infrastructure. Until then, they never had bilateral economic agreements, even though they have been good neighbors for each other.
The scale of their trade mounted US $0.862 billion in 2002, and it increased by 36 % compared to 2001. China is the third largest trade partner for Myanmar next to Singapore and Thialand. On one hand, China exports textile, electronics and hi-tech products. On the other hand, Myanmar exports primary goods such as timber, gems and saw lumber (Because China domestically has restrictions on forestry ).
Resource: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg/yzs/gjlb/2747/default.htm
As I mentioned in the last articles, their relationship is relevant in Asean frame work too.
The scale of their trade mounted US $0.862 billion in 2002, and it increased by 36 % compared to 2001. China is the third largest trade partner for Myanmar next to Singapore and Thialand. On one hand, China exports textile, electronics and hi-tech products. On the other hand, Myanmar exports primary goods such as timber, gems and saw lumber (Because China domestically has restrictions on forestry ).
Resource: http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/eng/wjb/zzjg/yzs/gjlb/2747/default.htm
As I mentioned in the last articles, their relationship is relevant in Asean frame work too.
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