Myanmar workers working in garment factories in Mae Sot are now facing difficulty as garment orders for coming winter has declined, according to Myanmar garment workers in Mae Sot.

“Majority of Myanmar workers’ situation in Mae Sot isn’t good. Most of them returned to Myanmar. Some factories gave transportation charges for going home. If you are from Yangon, they gave charges for Yangon and if you are from Bago, they gave transportation charges for Bago. Those chose to stay are given daily expense. As there is no garments’ order, the factories are temporarily stopped operation. The entire Mae Sot district faces the same as there are no orders for the winter. Not only the big scale industries but also small industries like home factories faced the same. So, it is not the right time to come to Mae Sot. Majority of the migrant workers are in difficulty,” said Ko Zaw from a garment factory near Thaungyin River.

Some factories workers are now working in agriculture, farming and construction sites, he added.

There are over 200 official industries including garment factories in Mae Sot, and more than 1000 small scale house factories. But, due to the temperature changes, and the temperature rises in winter and demand for selling winter clothes declined, according to chairman of Joint Action Committee for Burmese Affairs (JACBA) U Moe Gyo.

“Among the officially opened 200 factories, workers from only 5 industries and 2 shopping centers get in accordance with the workers’ right. The rest aren’t entitling to the law prescribed in Thailand. There are 80,000 workers including garment workers. Over 90,000 workers have guaranteed from their owners and the over 100,000 workers don’t have guarantees. At present, there are less garment orders in Mae Sot. Most of the migrant works face hardship in the cold season,” said U Moe Gyo.

He added that Mae Sot has few job opportunities like other places in Thailand. In the past, before COVID, garment factories had orders from head to toe. Previously, this time is used to be very cold. Due to climate change, the cold season is like hot season and so there is few garment orders for winter. It caused hardship among garment factories workers in Mae Sot as the numbers of unemployed and least paid workers have increased.

There are over 400,000 Myanmar migrant workers in four townships in Tak district and five townships in Mae Sot district in Tak Province. There are more factory workers in Mae Sot Township.