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The Plight of Migrant Child Workers in Mae Sot, Thailand

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The Plight of Migrant Child Workers in Mae Sot, Thailand The Mekong Challenge Working Day and Night The Plight of Migrant Child Workers in Mae Sot, Thailand By The Federation of Trade Unions – Burma (FTUB) Migrants Section with Philip S. Robertson Jr., Editor Mekong Sub-regional Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour International Labour Organization Copyright © International Labour Organization 2006 First published 2006 Publications of the International Labour Office enjoy copyright under Protocol 2 of the Universal Copyright Convention. Nevertheless, short excerpts from them may be reproduced without authorization, on condition that the source is indicated. For rights of reproduction or translation, application should be made to ILO Publications (Rights and Permissions), International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland, or by email: pubdroit@ ilo.org. The International Labour Office welcomes such applications. Libraries, institutions and other users registered in the United Kingdom with the Copyright Licensing Agency, 90 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4LP [Fax: (+44) (0)20 7631 5500; email: [email protected]], in the United States with the Copyright Clearance Center, 222 Rosewood Drive, Danvers, MA 01923 [Fax: (+1) (978) 750 4470; email: [email protected]] or in other countries with associated Reproduction Rights Organizations, may make photocopies in accordance with the licences issued to them for this purpose. Mekong Sub-regional Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women The Mekong Challenge – Working Day and Night: The Plight of Migrant Child Workers in Mae Sot, Thailand Bangkok, International Labour Office, 2006 92-2-119252-0 & 978-92-2-119252-7 English (print) 92-2-819252-6 & 978-92-2-819252-0 Thai (print) 92-2-119253-9 & 978-92-2-119253-4 English (web pdf) 92-2-819253-4 & 978-92-2-819253-7 Thai (web pdf) The designations employed in ILO publications, which are in conformity with United Nations practice, and presentation of material therein do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the International Labour Office concerning the legal status of any country, area or territory or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of its frontiers. The responsibility for opinions expressed in signed articles, studies and other contributions rests solely with their authors, and publication does not constitute an endorsement by the International Labour Office of the opinions expressed in them. Reference to names of firms and commercial products and processes does not imply their endorsement by the International Labour Office, and any failure to mention a particular firm, commercial product or process is not a sign of disapproval. ILO publications can be obtained through major booksellers or ILO local offices in many countries, or direct from ILO Publications, International Labour Office, CH-1211 Geneva 22, Switzerland. Catalogues or lists of new publications are available free of charge from the above address, or by email: [email protected]. Copies of this publication can be obtained at: ILO Mekong Sub-regional Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women 10th Floor, United Nations Building Rajdamnern Nok Avenue, PO Box 2-349 Bangkok 10200 Thailand Visit our project website at: www.childtrafficking.net Photos: Elaine Pearson. (the photos are generic and were not taken in any of the factories mentioned herein) Printed in Thailand * This report does not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Government of the United Kingdom and the United States Department of Labor, nor does any mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the Governments of the United Kingdom and the United States Department of Labor. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS This action-oriented research study was made possible with the support of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and its Mekong Sub-regional Project to Combat Trafficking in Children and Women (TICW), implemented under the auspices of the International Programme on the Elimination of Child Labour (IPEC). The team, led by the Migrant Section of the Federation of Trade Unions – Burma (FTUB), conducted action oriented research on the situation of Burmese child migrants (aged between 10 to 18 years1) who work in industrial factories and in the informal sector in Mae Sot district, Tak province, Thailand. In Mae Sot, the team would particularly like to express its sincere appreciation and gratitude to the following, who provided useful information and strong support to the team during the process of collecting this data: the headmistresses and the school teachers of Sawthoolei and Baramee schools in Mae Sot; Dr. Cynthia Maung and her team of health workers at the Mae Tao Clinic; the Federation of Trade Unions – Kawthoolei (FTUK), representatives of the refugee communities in Mae La and Nupo refugee camps, and representatives of the Mae Sot office of the FTUB. During the period of the study, the lead researcher was able to meet and discuss issues related to the report with the Governor of Tak province, the District Officer (Nai Amphoe) of Mae Sot district, the Director of the Mae Sot Immigration office, provincial officials of the Ministry of Labour, officials of the Sub-district Administrative Organisation (Or Bor Dtor), members of the Tak Chamber of Commerce, and the Superintendent of the Mae Sot police. The team would like to take this opportunity to thank all the various Royal Thai Government officials in Tak province who collaborated with the team. The team would also like to express its great appreciation to Allan Dow, Anna Engblom, Thetis Mangahas, Elaine Pearson, Bijoy Raychaudhuri and Taneeya Runcharoen at the ILO TICW office in Bangkok for their continuous positive inputs to the development of this research and various drafts of this report, and for their patience, and to Raghwan Raghwan of ILO ACTRAV for his support. The team also thanks Phil Robertson, a long-time friend and collaborator on projects to assist migrant workers in Mae Sot, for his comprehensive job in the technical editing of this report. 1 Although 19.3% of the sample stated their age as 18 years, given the Burmese cultural conception of birth years it is highly likely they are in actual fact 17 years of age (see p. 34 of the Findings chapter for more details). i Last but certainly not least, the team would like to acknowledge the cooperation of the 313 Burmese migrant child workers in Mae Sot who kindly agreed to be interviewed. They provided a wealth of information about their origins and their living and working conditions in this border town. For many of these children, this was the first time in their lives that they had participated in such a survey, answering extensive questions about their situation. Considering the daunting circumstances of repression and deprivation in Burma from which many of these children have fled, engaging in a survey of this sort demonstrates a commendable commitment to support efforts to improve their lives and the lives of others. Without their selfless contributions, the team could not have prepared this report. Federation of Trade Unions – Burma July 2006 iv Case 1: Aye, 14 year old female from Mawlamyine Township, Mon State, Burma. Aye was born into a poor family in Mawlamyine Township in one of Burma’s ethnically diverse states. In order to help add to her family’s small income, and like so many other children from this impoverished area, Aye toiled as a child worker at a Burmese garment factory. One day the factory was forced to close, and she lost her job. Bad turned to worse for the family when Aye’s father died. She travelled with her mother to Mae Sot, even though the family had no connections there. They crossed the Myawaddy Bridge into Thailand and entered a new and challenging period of their lives. Aye’s previous work experience in a garment factory made it ______________________ easy for her to get a job soon after arriving in Mae Sot. But her since Aye is below 15 years new work is arduous. She spends more than 12 hours per day, 7 days per week at the factory. The long hours have taken a toll of age, and is not legally on Aye’s health. She suffers from persistent headaches and back entitled to register and strain. ZRUNWKHRZQHUIDOVLÀHG the new ID card to make In Burma, Aye completed primary school but is not interested it appear that she is older. in continuing secondary education. Her main objective now is to help her mother earn enough money to send home to relatives Meantime, he has kept in Mawlamyine who are caring for her three younger siblings. possession of Aye’s original LGHQWLÀFDWLRQGRFXPHQWV Unfortunately, Aye reports that she cannot contribute as much ______________________ as she would like to her mother because she earns only 300 Baht (US$ 7.50) a week. As a minor, she is paid lower wages than other workers. The owner deducts between 500 and 1,800 Baht (US$ 12.50 - 45.00) in penalties if Aye accidentally cuts the clothes she is making. The owner also deducts money for food and shelter. Aye must also repay her new boss the fee he paid to register her as a migrant worker (for an ID card and work permit). But since Aye is below 15 years of age, and is not legally entitled to register and work, the owner falsified the new ID card to make it appear that she is older. Meantime, he has kept possession of Aye’s original identification documents. Mae Sot throws up other challenges to young migrants like Aye. She frequently encounters drug addicts in town who try to extort money from her and Aye says she does not feel safe working or living in this kind of environment. v Despite the hardship she faces, Aye says she continues to work in the factory because the pay in Mae Sot is higher than what she could earn in Burma.
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