Burmese increasingly forced to seek greener pastures abroad -MIZZIMA

http://www.mizzima.com/news/regional/1173-burmese-increasingly-forced-to-seek-greener-pastures-abroad.html

by Mizzima News
Wednesday, 22 October 2008 17:00

Chiang Mai - The outflow of Burma's workforce to regional countries is expected to increase over the coming years, adding to the three million Burmese who are already estimated to have left in recent decades, according to the International Organization for Migration (IOM).

Despite a dearth of reliable data for statistics related to migration patterns in Southeast Asia, the IOM, in a report released Monday, stated that economic hardship will continue to "push" Burmese citizens to seek a better livelihood across international borders.

"The country's current lack of adequate infrastructure and its low skilled workforce are a hindrance to further economic development," explain the reports' authors. "Limited employment prospects in Myanmar [Burma] encourage many to look for opportunities in other countries."

The only out-migration country in the regional study where economic growth is expected to be slower in the coming years than in destination countries, '"Push factors" are expected to remain particularly strong in Myanmar [Burma], where slower growth is expected to widen further the income disparity with Thailand."

Thailand, with a per capita income six times greater than that of Burma, remains the principle destination of those leaving Burma. However, in contrast to earlier trends, IOM estimates prospective migrant workers now vastly outpace asylum seekers, while the migration of Burmese women across borders may now be higher than that of men. Official statistics show 46 percent of Burmese migrants to the Royal Kingdom are now female.



Regionally said to represent one the largest migrant populations, Burmese in Thailand are estimated to number some two million, a majority of whom lack any formal authorization, being forced to exist with either irregular or no status.

IOM warns that the lack of official recognition and rights extended to migrant populations exposes members of the migrant community to abuse and exploitation, creating a living environment fraught with dangers such as an increased rate of exposure to infectious diseases.

Further, due to the incomplete implementation of a 2003 Memorandum of Understanding between Thai and Burmese authorities, migrants are said to commonly be go without basic societal services, including insufficient health care and educational opportunities.

Of the estimated two million Burmese in Thailand, 485,925 had work permits as of mid-2007 – accounting for a staggering 91 percent of all work permit applications received by the host country; with most migrants listed as being employed in fishery processing, agribusiness, construction and in private households.

In additional testimony to the perceived lack of future economic opportunities in Burma, applications for 77,000 Burmese children have now been completed as per the requirements of the initial stage of the 2004 migrant application process for children in Thailand.

Statistics cited from the Asian Migrant Centre estimate Burma's migrant population in selected countries throughout the region to be: Malaysia – 25,000; Bangladesh – 290,000; India – 70,000.

If the risks to which migrant workers are exposed are to be minimized, IOM recommends improved oversight of the recruitment industry, as well as full implementation of bilateral agreements ensuring the rights of immigrant populations, making certain to address gender sensitive issues.

Migrant Burmese, residing regionally, are listed during the course of 2006 as having sent 117 million dollars in remittances to family and friends remaining behind in Burma.

Meanwhile, official remittances from migrants throughout the region are said to have risen from 4.2 billion dollars in 1990 to 50 billion dollars as of 2006.