BURMA/MYANMAR VISIT 2016

Transcription

1 BURMA/MYANMAR VISIT 2016 Beyond Tolerance : Working hand- in- hand to promote the social inclusion of migrants and their families Image: Beyond Tolerance participants visiting project partner and host organization the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society in Burma/Myanmar. (Photo by John Hulme) Overview Purpose: To better understand issues of social inclusion and exclusion for Myanmar migrants and their families. Date: June 2016 Location: Yangon and Bago Region, Myanmar Host Organization: The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Project Partners: The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, MAP Foundation, Legal Support for Children and Women, and Cambodian Women s Crisis Center Participants: Members of the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society, MAP Foundation, Legal Support for Children and Women, Brilliant Future of Myanmar, MMN Secretariat, and the Toyota Foundation Funder: The Toyota Foundation 1

2 Introduction The Mekong Migration Network (MMN) is a network of regional and national civil society and research organizations from across the Greater Mekong Sub- region. The network was established in 2003 to act as a platform for member organizations to exchange information and conduct cross- border projects advocating for the protection of migrants. MMN carries out activities in the areas of information monitoring, research, capacity building, and advocacy. One of MMN s current projects is Beyond Tolerance : Working hand- in- hand to promote the social inclusion of migrants and their families. Financially supported by the Toyota Foundation, Beyond Tolerance strives to better understand and promote the social inclusion of migrants and their families while addressing causes of social exclusion. These themes are being explored in the context of origin countries Cambodia and Burma/Myanmar and destination countries Thailand and Japan. Coordinated by the MMN Regional Coordinator, Ms. Reiko Harima, the core project partners include Ms. Thet Thet Aung from the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society from Burma/Myanmar, Mr. Brahm Press from the MAP Foundation from Thailand, Mr. Sopheap Suong from the Cambodian Women s Crisis Center (CWCC), Mr. Sokchar Mom from Legal Support for Children and Women (LSCW) from Cambodia, and Ms. Yuriko Saito from Meiji Gakuin University from Japan. Equipped with knowledge from previous visits to Thailand and Cambodia, the Beyond Tolerance team visited Yangon and Bago Region for six days to expand their understanding of issues of social inclusion and exclusion for migrants and their families in the context of Burma/Myanmar. From June, the team participated in a public discussion on labour migration hosted by the ILO, met with management committees from South Dagon Industrial Zone and Thilawa Special Economic Zone, and spoke with migrant returnees and family members of migrant workers in Bago Region. Participants also had the opportunity of exchanging information with CSOs and labour rights organizations, and visiting the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation (MOEAF), a Migrant Resource Centre (MRC), and pre- departure training (refer to Appendix A for the agenda). Beyond Tolerance project partners will use the information they gained throughout the week to prepare for next month s visit and the project s final country visit to Japan. Findings from these visits and additional interviews will be used to write an advocacy paper and create a multimedia presentation promoting the social inclusion of migrants, which will be presented at roundtable discussions and photo exhibitions in Yangon, Phnom Penh, and Bangkok in October Day 1: Internal Meeting & Public Discussion Public Discussion on Irregular and Irregularities of Labour Migration The visit commenced with an internal planning meeting followed by an evening of public dialogue at the Public Discussion on Irregular and Irregularities of Labour Migration, hosted by the International Labour Organization- Yangon (ILO- Yangon). Ms. Jackie Pollock of 2

3 ILO- Yangon a longtime advisor of MMN opened the discussion by asking, Does regular migration make things better for migrant workers? Regularization is a common discourse used when discussing migration. While there is no universally accepted definition of irregular migration, it is generally understood as the movement of people that takes place outside of the regulatory norms of sending and receiving countries. It can involve entering, staying, or working in a country without the necessary authorization or documents, as well as crossing an international border without a valid passport or travel document. 1 Over the course of the evening the audience heard from a young Myanmar woman who migrated to Japan to work in the fashion design industry and a young man who left Myanmar to work in a furniture factory in Thailand. Despite obtaining documentation, signing employment contracts, and paying recruitment fees, they experienced discrepancies in the wages, type of work, working conditions, and required skill levels they agreed upon prior to departure and their realities on the ground. The woman received a wage of 45,000 yen per month (438 USD) even though her contract stated 60,000 yen per month (583 USD) to work in a position requiring a higher skill level than what she was informed. The man was transported to work at a construction site, electronic factory, and chicken feed factory despite his broker guaranteeing him work in a furniture factory. Beyond Tolerance participant and panelist Mr. Sokchar Mom of Legal Support for Children and Women explained how that these kinds of experiences are not unique to Myanmar migrant workers as Cambodian migrants are often faced with similar situations. Regular migration does not necessarily guarantee the protection of migrant workers rights and in some cases, as Mr. Mom noted, exorbitant fees and documentation may hamper workers ability to leave an exploitive position. Image: Beyond Tolerance participant Mr. Sokchar Mom of Legal Support for Children and Women presenting at the Public Discussion on Irregular and Irregularities in Labour Migration, hosted by ILO- Yangon. (Photo by John Hulme) 1 IOM. Key Migration Terms. migration- terms. 3

4 South Dagon Industrial Zone Day 2: Site Visits to an Industrial Zone & Special Economic Zone On 20 June, the Beyond Tolerance team had the opportunity of visiting South Dagon Industrial Zone 2. In the 1990s, as part of a shift towards a market- oriented economy, the government established the Myanmar Industrial Development Committee, which set up industrial zones designated areas for manufacturing facilities on the periphery of major cities. Today, Yangon has over 20 industrial zones, including South Dagon Industrial Zone 1, 2, and 3. Seated in an office building surrounded by small and medium- sized locally- owned enterprises, participants exchanged information with representatives of the South Dagon Industrial Zone 2 Management Committee. The Committee explained that the top three products manufactured by Zone 2 s approximately 800 factories are steel, screws for construction, and foodstuff. There are also 150 garment factories located in the Zone which manufacture products largely for domestic consumption. Many of Zone 2 s 9,000 workers (around 6,000 men and 3,000 women) migrated to South Dagon Township from rural areas in Central Myanmar, in particular from Yangon and Ayeyarwady Region, in search of employment. The Management Committee repeatedly emphasized how factories in this Zone operate like a family business and that even the owner can be a worker. Image: Beyond Tolerance participants meeting with representatives of the South Dagon Industrial Zone 2 Management Committee. (Photo by John Hulme) When questioned how much money workers earn, the Committee responded that wages are typically negotiated between employers and employees. In September 2015, the government of Myanmar installed a minimum wage of 3,600 kyats per day (around 3 USD). In the South Dagon Industrial Zones, this minimum wage only applies to factories with over 15 workers. If a factory has less than 15 workers, daily wages are negotiable. During a brief visit to a hot, dimly lit factory pumping out steel shelving units, participants learned that when the new minimum wage came into effect, some factories temporarily closed in order to dismiss their workforce, rehire workers, and negotiate lower wages. Some of the 4

5 employees engaging in higher- valued work in this particular factory receive a salary, while other employees wages depend on how many pieces they produce each day. Thilawa Special Economic Zone Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), located 23 kilometres southeast of Yangon city center and spanning 2,400 hectares, is one of three SEZs being developed in Burma/Myanmar. In 2012, a Memorandum of Cooperation was signed between the governments of Myanmar and Japan to jointly develop the SEZ. The Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) has a ten percent stake in the project while three Japanese companies, Mitsubishi, Sumitomo, and Marubeni, hold an additional 39 percent stake. The Myanmar Government has a 10 percent stake and nine Myanmar companies have invested the remaining 41 percent. In Myanmar, the laws governing SEZs provide several incentives for investors, including a 100 percent tax exemption for seven years for companies operating in free zones (companies exporting at least 75 percent of their products) and for five years for companies operating in promotion zones (companies exporting less than 75 percent of their products). In a meeting with Dr. Than Than Thwe, Joint Secretary of the Thilawa SEZ Management Committee, Beyond Tolerance project partners learned that of the 62 companies from 15 countries that have invested in the SEZ to date, eight are in operation. The main products being produced include garment, shoes, and toys for export, and construction materials and foodstuff for domestic consumption. While these eight companies employ around 2,200 workers, the completed SEZ is anticipated to create 200,000 factory jobs. 900 of these workers are currently employed by a Chinese- backed garment factory. Image: Location of Thilawa Special Economic Zone. (Map from the Thilawa SEZ Management Committee) 5

6 During the presentation, participants were informed that the construction of three six- storey dormitories is nearing completion. While Dr. Than Than Thwe explained that workers are being recruited from the local area, including among the 68 households that have been forcefully displaced by the development thus far, the Myanmar Times reported that these buildings are designed to house the first wave of internal migrant workers moving to the SEZ from across the country. 2 Each room will accommodate six people and cost between 25,000 to 30,000 kyat per month per person (around 25 USD). Additional costs will include food, as workers will not be able to cook in their rooms, and electricity and water fees. Dr. Than Than Thwe also declared that she is in the process of conducting a labour monitoring survey to assess the satisfaction of workers in regards to their transportation, accommodation, wages, and other working conditions. Link to the presentation: Image: Beyond Tolerance participants visiting the Thilawa Special Economic Zone one of three SEZs being developed in Myanmar 23 kilometres southeast of Yangon. (Photo by John Hulme) Day 3: Community Visits in Bago Region Naung Khar Shae and Thayetyone Community Day three of the visit took participants to two communities, Naung Khar Shae and Thayetyone, in Bago Region. While sitting in a circle on the floors of a monastery and living room, migrant returnees and the family members of migrant workers shared experiences of both documented and undocumented migration to Thailand. Some people explained that men and women from their communities choose to migrate because they want to earn 2 Zar Yar Lin. (2016, June 1). Thilawa SEZ worker dorms to open soon. Myanmar Times. thilawa- sez- worker- dorms- to- open- soon.html. 6

7 money and do not have access to employment opportunities at home. They also explained that when migrant workers return home they often do not share negative experiences of migration with their families and communities. Participants learned that many people in the meetings did not know about their rights or how to access information and services provided by embassies, labour attachés, the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation, or the ILO. When asked whether people would continue to migrate given the negative stories that were shared about grim working conditions and migrants that have lost contact with their families, a migrant returnee responded: We don t have money. We still want to go there to earn money even though there have been bad experiences. Image: Beyond Tolerance participants learning from migrant returnees and the family members of migrant workers in Thayetyone, Bago Region. (Photo by John Hulme) Day 4: CSO Consultation & Meetings with the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation & Migrant Resource Centre Civil Society Organization Consultation 22 July began with Beyond Tolerance participants engaging in a consultation with CSOs and labour rights organizations working on migration and labour issues across Burma/Myanmar and in parts of Thailand. These organizations included: Labour Rights Defenders and Promoters (LRDP), WE Generation Network, Karen Baptist Convention (KBC), Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM), Sex Workers in Myanmar (SWIM) Network, Impulse Case Info, Myanmar YMCA, and Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association (YCOWA) (refer to Appendix B for the agenda). The morning session involved exchanging information on CSO activities and exploring opportunities for cross- border collaboration. Together, organizations activities cut across the themes of education, capacity building, case management, and advocacy. The consultation concluded with consensus around the need for greater networking and sharing 7

8 of up- to- date information on migration and labour issues with like- minded organizations across the region. Link to meeting minutes: Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation The morning s consultation was followed by introductory meetings with the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation (MOEAF) and a Migrant Resource Centre (MRC). MOEAF, established in 2012 under the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, is comprised of 252 licensed overseas employment agencies, which send Myanmar migrant workers to Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Japan. MOEAF is mandated to forge agreements with employers in receiving countries, receive demands for workers from employers, and connect potential Myanmar migrant workers to employment opportunities. MOEAF also has a Code of Conduct, receives complaints, and provides pre- departure training in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, ILO, and IOM. Link to the presentation: Image: Beyond Tolerance participants meeting with the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation (MOEAF). (Photo by John Hulme) Migrant Resource Centre Migrant Resource Centres (MRCs), funded by the ILO and IOM and operating in collaboration with Myanmar s Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, are one- stop service points that also provide information, individual job counseling, and assistance with filing complaints related to over- charging, unfair treatment, or exploitation by 8

9 unscrupulous brokers, recruitment agencies, or employers. Beyond Tolerance participants received packets of information on safe migration and learned that there are 11 MRCs across the country with locations advertised in local newspapers and on radio stations. Outside of Yangon, MRCs can be found in Mawlayine, Hpa- An, Magway, Dawei, Myawaddy, Kyaingtong Township in Shan State, and Chan Aye Thar San, Meikhtila, Myingyan, and Kyaukse Township in Mandalay Region. Image: Beyond Tolerance participants visiting a Migrant Resource Centre in Yangon. (Photo by John Hulme) Pre- departure Training Day 5: Visits to a Pre- departure Training Centre & the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society On 23 June, participants had the opportunity of witnessing a pre- departure training, which is currently only available for workers migrating to Malaysia. For 8 hours per day, seated in colourful plastic chairs, 250 people listen to an instructor teach basic language skills and share information on the socioeconomic and political situation of the country, Malaysian laws, occupational health and safety, documented migration processes, and the risks of human trafficking. Future workers are also provided with contact information for labour attachés, embassies, and the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation. Although there are no examinations to test their newfound knowledge, these 2- day training sessions are required of potential migrant workers in order to secure an overseas employment identification card, known as a smart card, and continue the migration process. 9

10 Image: Beyond Tolerance participants discussing the role of pre- departure trainings for Myanmar migrant workers travelling to Malaysia. (Photo by John Hulme) Image: Beyond Tolerance participants visiting a pre- departure training session for Myanmar workers migrating to Malaysia, facilitated by the MOEAF in collaboration with the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security, ILO, and IOM. (Photo by John Hulme) The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society The week s visit to Burma/Myanmar culminated with an insightful discussion with U Ko Ko Gyi, a prominent leader of project partner the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society (88 Generation). 88 Generation is a political organization comprised of activists who are renowned for their role in Burma s pro- democracy movement. In 1988, U Ko Ko Gyi and other members of 88 Generation were involved in organizing mass protests that gave rise to 10

11 a bloody military crackdown. U Ko Ko Gyi, along with fellow political activists, was imprisoned for many years until his eventual release in January 2012 as part of a wider prisoner amnesty granted by former President Thein Sein. As a transformed political student group, the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society works to promote peace and build an active civil society across the country. In regards to addressing issues of migration and labour, 88 Generation collaborates with the ILO, NGOs, and the Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Security to raise awareness of labour laws and lobby the government to amend existing laws. U Ko Ko Gyi explained how they have to work within existing governance and legal systems, which are inundated with corruption and are simply not enough to solve underlying problems. He expressed, if we cannot change the situation, we at least try to improve the existing situation. Image: Beyond Tolerance participants learning from U Ko Ko Gyi, a prominent leader of project partner the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society. (Photo by John Hulme) Day 6: Internal Reflection Meeting Prior to departing for their own countries of origin, Beyond Tolerance participants collectively reflected on their new understanding of issues surrounding the social inclusion and exclusion of migrants from and within Burma/Myanmar. The information that was gathered from speaking with migrant returnees and families, to meeting with industrial zone management committees, the MOEAF, and 88 Generation, to visiting a Migrant Resource Centre and pre- departure training, will be used to prepare for next month s visit and the project s final country visit to Japan. Findings from these visits will culminate in an advocacy paper and multimedia presentation that will be shared later this year in cities across the region. 11

12 APPENDIX A Burma/Myanmar Visit Agenda Beyond Tolerance - The project exploring issues of social exclusion and inclusion Supported by the Toyota Foundation Location: Yangon and Bago Region, Myanmar Host Organization: The 88 Generation Peace and Open Society 18 June 2016 Time Agenda Location Participants arrive and check- in at the hotel Real Link Hotel Free evening 19 June :30 Leave the hotel 9:00-16:00 Internal planning/strategy meeting Sagawa, Yangon - Discussing the advocacy paper, multimedia presentation file, interviews with migrants/returnees etc. - Briefing and orientation about the Burma/Myanmar Visit 16:20 Leave the hotel for Sein Lan Soe Pyay, Inya Lake Meet at the hotel lobby 17:00-19:00 Public Discussion on Irregular and Irregularities of Labour Migration, hosted by ILO- Yangon Sein Lan Soe Pyay, Inya Lake 19:00-20:30 Dinner hosted by ILO- Yangon 20 June :00 Leave the hotel 9:00-11:00 Visit South Dagon Industrial Zone Dagon Township, Yangon - Meeting with the Management Committee - Visiting a factory & workers in the zone 12:00-13:00 Lunch 14:00-16:00 Visit Thilawa Special Economic Zone Kyauktan Township, - Meeting with the SEZ Management Committee Yangon - Touring the SEZ 21 June :00 Leave the hotel 10:00-12:00 Visit Naung Khar Shae Community - Visiting migrant returnees, migrants families, and migrant source communities 12 Bago Division 12:00-13:00 Lunch 13:00-15:00 Visit Thayetyone Village Bago Division 15:00-17:00 Return to Yangon Evening Free evening Yangon 22 June :00-12:00 CSO Consultation Royal Rose, Yangon

13 - Meeting with CSOs and labour rights organisations working on migration to share the current situation in Burma/Myanmar (i.e. what it is like for them to respond to migration issues), introduce MMN, and network 12:00 Lunch 13:00 Leave the venue 14:00-15:00 Visit to Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Yangon Federation (MOEAF) 16:00-17:00 Visit to Migrant Resource Centre (MRC) Mayangon Township, Yangon 18:00 Return back to the hotel Evening Free evening 23 June :00 Leave from hotel 9:00-11:00 Visit to the Pre- departure training run by the North Dagon, Yangon MOEAF 12:00 Lunch 13:00-14:00 Visit the 88 Generation Peace and Open Society Evening Solidarity dinner Venue to be confirmed 24 June :00-12:30 Reflection/wrap up meeting Real Link Hotel PM Participants depart 13

14 APPENDIX B CSO Consultation Agenda Beyond Tolerance - The project exploring issues of social exclusion and inclusion Supported by the Toyota Foundation CSO Consultation, 22 June 2016 Royal Rose, Yangon Objectives: 1) To introduce the Mekong Migration Network (MMN) to CSOs and labour rights organizations working on migration issues in Myanmar; 2) To mutually exchange information about the migration situation and CSOs strategy to improve the situation in Burma/Myanmar, Cambodia, and Thailand; and 3) To explore possible areas of collaboration. 22 June 2016 Time Agenda Facilitator 8:45-9:00 Registration Thet Thet Aung & Carli Melo 9:00-9:30 Introduction Omsin Boonlert - Introducing the agenda, objectives of the meeting, the Beyond Tolerance project, and participants 9:30-9:45 Introduction of MMN Omsin Boonlert 9:45-10:30 Sharing and mapping the types of work CSOs in Burma/Myanmar carry out in response to migration issues *Also discussing challenges faced when carrying out such work when relevant 10:30-10:45 10:45-11:00 11:00-11:15 Break Sharing about the migration situation and strategies/response of CSOs in Thailand (from a destination country perspective) Sharing about the migration situation and strategies/response of CSOs in Cambodia (from a country of origin perspective) Omsin Boonlert & Brahm Press Brahm Press Sokchar Mom 11:15-11:50 Exploring areas of collaboration Brahm Press 11:50-12:00 Wrapping up Omsin Boonlert 14