Myanmar migrants will definitely receive the minimum wage?

The Pattaya Mail reports:

Myanmar migrant workers who have already passed the nationality verification process are entitled to receive Thailand’s Bt300 minimum wage, the same rate as Thai workers under Thai law, according to Vice Minister of Labour and Social Welfare Anusorn Kraiwatnussorn. Mr Anusorn said after meeting with visiting Myanmar Deputy Minister for Labour Myint Thein that he told Myint Thein to inform the Myanmar workers who wanted to work legally in Thailand that they would definitely receive Bt300 minimum wage, the same rate as Thai workers.

Impending deportation of undocumented migrants

The Thai government is scheduled to deport undocumented Myanmar workers en masse when the 14 December 2012 deadline for registration arrives:

Bangkok Post reports:

An estimated 1 million legal and illegal migrant workers from Myanmar who have yet to apply for nationality verification ahead of the Dec 14 deadline could face deportation. Despite the large numbers, the Employment Department will close all national verification centres and deport migrant workers who fail to undergo the verification process by Dec 14.

See also an article from The Irrawaddy.

Myanmar migrants in Malaysia

Khabar Southeast Asia reports on Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia:

Foreign workers are a boon to the service industry due to a lack of local manpower, says Endrew Wong, 41, the co-owner of Chi Hao Dian. Yet Malaysia's large foreign workforce is a relatively new phenomenon.

Back in 1991, migrant workers were unheard of, save for those in higher management, Wong said. But now five-star hotels almost exclusively employ non-Malaysians for stewarding and housekeeping jobs.

Pay discrepency between local and foreign workers in Myanmar

The Myanmar Times reports on pay discrepancies between Myanmar and Chinese nationals working on the Rakhine State gas pipeline:

Myanmar engineers taking part in training in China before working on a pipeline project have expressed frustration over what they say are unfair differences in pay between Myanmar and Chinese workers.... The Myanmar workers say the Chinese trainees are receiving wages almost three times higher during the training period and five times higher after they start work.

Myanmar, the last frontier?

Forbes reports on what some international investors believe to be "a great opportunity for investment and growth" in Myanmar.  The article has some useful statistics on the country's labour force:

The country has a labor force of 31.68 million, out of a population of 60 million. Unfortunately it’s unskilled with 70% employed in agriculture. Only 7% work in industry. While a low wage structure may attract manufacturers, the lack of skilled workers will limit scope to basic products. The country’s human capital is a key component to future growth. 25% of the population is below working age, and only 7.7% over the age of 65, this compares to China with 20% and 11.5% respectively. However “the country is the only developing Asian country with a defense budget greater than the education and health budgets combined.” [Asian Development Bank report] The government spends less that 2.0% of GDP on education and health.

Trafficked Burmese migrants released in Thailand

Democratic Voice of Burma reports:

Burmese nationals who were being forced to work long hours for little pay at a shrimp factory in Thailand’s Samut Prakan province were released after their trafficker was arrested in Burma.

Striking workers attacked in Yangon

The Irrawaddy (5 Nov 2012) reports:

Six striking workers from Taw Win carpentry factory, in Rangoon’s Shwepyitha Township, have been admitted to the city’s Insein Hospital after a brawl on Saturday.