Historical bias against neighbouring nations a burden for migrant workers
Social activist Adisorn Kerdmongkol, a key person at the Migrant Working Group (MWG), was among five people just named as outstanding human rights defenders by the Somchai Neelapaijit Memorial Foundation. He answered questions by The Nation on Sunday's Pravit Rojanaphruk about the plight of migrant workers in Thailand. Excerpts:
What do you think of the Labour Ministry's considering a policy to force pregnant migrant workers back to their home countries to deliver their babies?
It reflects the bias of the Thai state towards migrant workers. It also only sees them as labour and a burden to Thailand and fails to see them as human.
This idea doesn't go in line with solving the problem of human trafficking, as mentioned by the ministry, but will only add more problems. This is not the first time that the Thai state is thinking like this, but every time they come up with such ideas, they always face opposition from those in the academia and NGOs, and yet almost every government comes up with similar ideas.
Why doesn't such a policy, if imposed, not cover pregnant white-collar expatriates from better-off nations with better salaries?
The Labour Ministry thinks they can take care of themselves. Also, their number may not be as high as the three neighbouring countries.
In other words, they value white-collar workers more than blue-collar workers.
What are the main problems facing migrant workers to date?
It is still mostly about exploitation and labour rights violation, be it in wages, working conditions or violation of basic rights, such as confiscation of Identification Cards so they cannot travel [outside the province]. These are long-standing problems.
There's also the problem with enforcement of the law that protects migrant workers, which is good but hardly enforced. The lack of interpretation and documents in the language of the migrant workers, the lack of rights to unionise and lastly, the negative attitude towards migrant workers due to the historic view of neighbouring states as enemies.
Why do these migrant workers, particularly in Bangkok, seem "invisible", unlike Filipino domestic workers in Hong Kong, where they can congregate and have a picnic in the city centre every Sunday?
There's two main issues. First, the Thai middle class in the city views migrant workers as a threat or posing a problem to them. This includes the historical and ethnic bias, as mentioned. It has resulted in migrant workers not being able to fully reveal themselves, as those around them may not be happy or it may lead to troubles. Secondly, it's about the safety of migrant workers from some government officials, who seek to exploit and extort money from them.
Are the recent political changes in Burma positive for the more than two million migrant workers in Thailand?
At one level, I see more hope for them. At least they will feel more secure to return home. I secretly wish these workers will one day become a force for development, democracy, human rights and liberty in Burma because they have learnt quite a bit from their experience in Thailand.
How is the historical animosity between Thailand and its neighbours playing out in the treatment of migrant workers here?
As far as I know, the factor ranks around the top. It makes a not-so-small number of Thais have negative impressions of people from Burma. Often, it's not just a negative view but hatred and distrust, which leads to violation of rights and disdain when these people have been violated.
What would you like to say to Thais who look at migrant workers with distrust, or see them as stealing jobs from Thais, or when bearing a child in the Kingdom they become a burden for Thailand?
First, they are human just like us. They, like Thais, have to struggle to make ends meet and maintain their human dignity. Most who I've come across have a positive view of Thai people unless they are those who've been violated or harmed.
For the past 20 years, they have become a major cog in Thai economic development. I believe that without them many businesses may be in trouble. Anyone could end up becoming migrant workers, so we should be compassionate and create a society that can co-exist with diversity.
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The migrants are for the most part terrorized by the Thai police and Ammat and predated by Thais not the other way round. The Thai elite use migrant workers to keep Thais' wages down and all jobs insecure so as to continue to dominate them. The idea of any of the migrants becoming a burden to Thailand, which does not in anyway value individual migrants is ludicrous. Drop dead is the attitude of Thailand to migrant workers. They are simply those kept on the very bottom rung of the ladder of exploitation by the elite, and thus help to lower the floor for ordinary Thais.
JFL, you just described the
JFL, you just described the socioeconomic dynamics of every nation that has ever existed throughout all time. These are the same things people across Europe, America, South America etc., complain about, it is embodied in the saying, "the grass is always greener on the other side of the fence."
Instead of using each and every article to berate the objects of your personal scorn - perhaps you could provide some useful commentary such as a solution?
Here's mine.
These people seek opportunities beyond their borders because they perceive none where they are. The root of this problem is ignorance and helplessness. The solution is education and training.
Since elitists the world over, including within the "hallowed halls" of "democracy and freedom" in the West we love to aspire to be like - will NEVER implement or meaningfully improve education themselves - it must be a grassroots movement that does it on a local basis.
An organization like Prachatai will millions of baht at its disposal should be translating MIT Open Course Ware videos into Thai - not US State Department talking points (of course I realize they'd then no longer have millions at their disposal).
And instead of readers in here trying to convince the world that Thaksin's UDD, PTP and voting is going to solve all these people's problems, how about you open up a school and start teaching these people how to solve their own problems?
Flapping your mouth obviously takes less energy than moving your arms with any meaningful or productive purpose - but if you really do care about progress, it needs to be your arms that do the work turning wrenches - not stuffing ballot boxes, and certainly not endless ideological chatter.