INVEST TO EXCEL: SUSTAINABLY GROWING YOUR WORKFORCE IN MYANMAR
2
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is embarking on an innovative collaboration with CSR Asia to invest in the voluntary return of skilled refugees and migrant workers to Myanmar from Thailand. With IRC’s expertise, the focus is to work with the private sector in Myanmar to build understanding and greater preparedness among refugees and migrant workers, so that they may successfully and sustainably reintegrate into Myanmar through decent work opportunities. Opportunities exist for the private sector to be engaged in this process to ensure that targeted people possess relevant skills aligned with the needs of businesses operating in Myanmar. This project’s goal is to invite leading companies operating in Myanmar to engage in dialogues to identify ways to invest in the future of returning refugees and migrant workers. The first meeting will be convened on 15th January 2015 at the Park Royal Hotel, Yangon. The dialogues will aim to: • Identify employment opportunities for returning skilled refugees and migrant workers • Identify further skills development opportunities that are aligned with market needs in Myanmar • Develop best practice for the employment and retention of workers
Project Background In 1984, the first major influx of refugees from Myanmar came to Thailand. Today, around 120,000 people live in nine refugee camps and as many as 2-3 million migrants are residing in Thailand. These groups of people left Myanmar due to many reasons, including armed conflict, lack of access to key services (health, education and other social services) and the need to sustain livelihoods. Inevitably, there will be a return of refugees and migrant workers to Myanmar as the country continues to develop economically and politically, and as the Thai government increasingly revaluates the possibilities of their repatriation.
1 The Border Consortium (2014), “What Refugees say”
NGOs and development agencies serving refugees and migrant workers in Thailand have worked on encouraging them to become more self-reliant through training and development opportunities, and entrepreneurship development programmes. For many the skills and knowledge learnt in the refugee camps and out in the cities will help those who return to Myanmar to support their own livelihoods, safely, sustainably, and with dignity. Whilst some remain resistant to the prospect of return to Myanmar, many remain relatively open to the idea, with a significant number reported to have returned to Myanmar to either permanently or to explore job opportunities1.
3 Building a Future in Myanmar for Returning Refugees and Migrant Workers
Refugees and Migrant Workers in Thailand As of the end of June 2014, there were2 :
118,917 refugees
are living in the nine refugee camps in Thailand.
77%
Karen/Kayin
11%
Karenni/Kayah
Around 77% of the total population in camps are ethnic Karen/Kayin, 11% are of Karenni/Kayah ethnicity, and the remainders include Burmans, Mon and others.
13%
under 5 years old
35%
5 and 17 years old
52%
aged 18 or above
13% of total population in camps are under 5 years old; 35% of total population in camps are between 5 and 17 years old; 52% of total population in camps are aged 18 or above.
2.5 to 3 million migrant workers
An estimated 2.5 to 3 million migrant workers from Myanmar are working in Thailand.
A significant number of refugees and migrant workers are skilled and working in various sectors, such as education, health, business management, communications, engineering, hospitality, and construction, among others. Many are actively searching for employment opportunities back home in Myanmar. The rapidly growing economy against the backdrop of gradual political developments in Myanmar presents both hope and apprehension for refugees and migrants. While realising that opportunities will increase for them to finally sustain a livelihood in their home country, they also harbour concerns over potential discrimination in the workplace, low salaries, hazardous working environments, and lack of welfare support. IRC and CSR Asia will look to discuss with interested companies ways to invest in the untapped potential of refugees and migrants, and support companies in their endeavours throughout the process.
2 The Border Consortium (2014), “Programme Report January – June 2014”
“A significant number of refugees and migrant workers are skilled and working in various sectors, such as education, health, business management, communications, engineering, hospitality, and construction, among others.”
4
Refugees The nine refugee camps based in Thailand are operated under a community-based camp management model. Whilst NGOs provide basic relief assistance and service to the camps, camp committees and health and education departments set up and run by refugees are responsible for overseeing all aspects of the camp. The Camp Committee is democratically elected and they work closely with NGOs to coordinate the delivery of humanitarian assistance and basic services, and makes decisions on behalf of the camp populations. Professional training is provided to those who are involved in these groups to ensure that they are equipped with the skills to fulfill their roles and responsibilities.
“Today, around 120,000 people live in nine refugee camps and as many as 2-3 million migrants are residing in Thailand.” In Thailand, refugees are not legally permitted to leave the camps to seek employment or education and most are reliant on the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and other NGOs to provide them with food assistance, health care, education, and skills training. However, some refugees have been leaving camps informally to take up jobs in neighbouring communities. Some refugees have set up their own businesses (e.g. shops and restaurants) and are cultivating their own livestock whilst others are employed by the camp to deliver key services (e.g. health services and education). Education inside the camp is primarily delivered by teachers within the communities. Most of the
camps provide an education up to Post-Ten3. Unaccompanied students from Myanmar also come to the camps to seek an education, as protracted conflict in south east Myanmar has resulted in gaps in coverage for education. Within the nine camps, there are currently 90 boarding houses with 2,763 students. The literacy rate inside camp is currently 60%4. In addition to the formal education system, IRC and other partner agencies are also delivering over 50 training programmes to refugees. Migrant workers There are an estimated 2-3 million migrants from Myanmar living in Thailand, with some who are legally registered to work and the majority with no legal status. The legal status of migrants is an area of concern where many have no legal status which results in significant restrictions on their basic rights. They also face a plethora of challenges, including income security and access to training and development opportunities. IRC works very closely with the Thai government, the Myanmar government, employers, and migrant workers themselves to advocate for the rights of migrants and more accessible registration processes. Through efforts such as this, the Thai government has now established ‘One Stop Service Centres’ across Thailand, where it is easier for migrants to register themselves as legal workers. The majority of low-skilled Burmese migrants in Thailand work in farms, factories, restaurants, fisheries and construction. The more skilled migrants work as teachers, health professionals, in hospitality management, business management, and with various organisations such as IRC, among other professions. A survey5 of 5,027 migrants found that 90%, 84% and 93% of those working in Bangkok, Samut Sakhon and Surat Thani were receiving at least minimum wage whilst those working in border provinces were receiving less, especially in Tak, where 92% of migrants received less than the minimum wage and half receiving less than half the minimum wage.
3 Post Ten education refers to the final year in Burmese high schools. 4 The Border Consortium (2013), “Programme Report January to June 2013”. 5 International Organization for Migration (2013), “Assessing potential changes in the migration patterns of Myanmar migrants and their impacts”.
5 Building a Future in Myanmar for Returning Refugees and Migrant Workers
In 2014, debates have been heightening in different regions of Thailand in regard to working conditions and remuneration. Nonetheless, migrant workers can now buy health insurance together with their employers for themselves and their dependants under a Thai government scheme.
Building greater capacity among refugees and migrant workers IRC and its partner agencies provide a series of training programmes for refugees and migrants living in Thailand. In 2014, the following were some of the trainings that were conducted by IRC and its partner agencies: Subject
Number of refugees trained annually6
Subject
Number of migrants trained annually
Agriculture
6,300
Education
7,000
Management and entrepreneurship
5,000
Legal and social services
400
Manual skills
3,200
Health
300
Education
2,800
Manual skills
280
Construction
820
Management and leadership
240
Health
528
Communications
90
Investing in the Future: Capacity Development for Refugee and Migrant Health Workers IRC provides formal training to refugees and migrants to become health workers (medics, nurses, midwives and community health workers). In the refugee camps, IRC, local organisations and more than 300 health workers are currently the sole providers of health services in: Ban Mai Nai Soi and Ban Mae Surin camp in Mae Hong Son Province, and Tham Hin camp in Ratchaburi Province. With IRC’s focus on building preparedness activities for return to Myanmar, they have introduced a programme to further strengthen the skills and competencies of refugee and migrant health care workers by providing recognised healthcare training courses from accredited academic institutions. IRC and the School of Global Studies at Thammasat University have worked together to introduce a training which leads to the attainment of a Certificate in Public Health, recognised by the Myanmar Ministry of Health (MOH).
6 The figures provided are approximate figures collated from IRC’s partner agencies. There might be a small margin of discrepancy due to the number of partner agencies involved in delivering these trainings.
6
The current situation in Thailand
Reduction in Food Assistance: In late 2013, there was a reduction of food and nutrition provided to refugees due to significant funding reductions and commodity price increases. Rations levels were maintained for children and vulnerable households, and rice rations increased for households deemed most vulnerable. Lack of opportunities in camp: Although IRC and its implementing partners are providing a range of training and development opportunities, there remain limited opportunities for further education for those living in camps. There are only a handful of schools on the Thailand-Myanmar border where young students can attend, leaving most with no means to educate themselves.
Political development in Thailand: The country is currently under the administration of the military National Council for Peace (NCPO) and Order. The NCPO and the joint military-civilian Internal Security Operations Command has started to regulate migrant workers, in particular those who have entered Thailand without documentation and are working unofficially. There has been an exodus of migrant workers back to Cambodia, Laos and Myanmar. More than 200,000 Cambodian workers have returned to Cambodia, according to the International Organization for Migration and Cambodian police. Enforcement of existing regulations: Whilst refugees are not legally permitted to leave the camps to seek employment, a significant number of refugees have been taking informal jobs or purchasing goods from neighbouring communities to sell inside the camps. The military is now enforcing existing regulations and this has the potential to undo the efforts made by refugees to become self-reliant and take more responsibility for their daily lives.
“There are an estimated 2-3 million migrants from Myanmar living in Thailand, with some who are legally registered to work and the majority with no legal status� Unregistered refugees in camp: There are currently 58,813 refugees that are not registered with the Thai authorities. This group of refugees do not have access to the same level of services and opportunities and they are liable to arrest and deportation if they are caught outside the camp. The Thai military is currently conducting a headcount of the camp population to ascertain who is legitimately living in the camp. It remains unclear what the outcome will be in registering those refugees.
7 Building a Future in Myanmar for Returning Refugees and Migrant Workers
The current situation in Myanmar IRC, The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), The Border Consortium, The Royal Thai Government and other international NGOs working with refugees all agree that conditions do not yet exist for the organised mass return of refugees. However, all parties concerned still remain focused on building preparedness activities for a return to Myanmar. In the past year, it has been reported to IRC that local authorities in south east Myanmar have tried to entice refugees and migrants to return by promising land and local registration. However, there are no formal policies or agreements in place, and protection concerns of returnees remain high. IRC, together with a plethora of NGOs and government departments in both Thailand and Myanmar, also work and plan collaboratively to improve access to training, employment, and registration for migrants. Economic conditions: The economy in Myanmar is on track to grow by 7.8% in fiscal year 2014. The growth is spurred by rising investments driven by improved business confidence, commodity exports, rising production of natural gas, buoyant tourism and credit growth7. As the country continues to grow, it has been reported8 that the country will need 32 million workers in 2015. Government relations: The Royal Thai Government and the Government of the Republic of Union of Myanmar (GoUM) have been in discussions about the return of refugees. No timeframe or written agreements have been made and there is a commitment to conduct the return in line with international standards. The UNHCR has introduced standards and guidelines for assisting spontaneous returnees based on refugee laws.
“As Myanmar continues to grow, it has been reported that the country will need 32 million workers in 2015.” Political development: The second round of dialogue between relevant parties in May 2014 established a nationwide ceasefire agreement and a joint framework for political dialogue. At the Laiza Summit in July 2014, leaders of the respective ethnic armed groups discussed the clauses which remain in dispute. Construction for resettlement: Construction has started on a series of small settlement sites adjacent to the Thailand border in Shan and Karen/ Kayin States, while other proposals are also under consideration. However, concerns have already been raised that planning for the construction of housing has not been integrated with assessment related to water supply, access to social services and livelihood opportunities. Returned refugees: A study9 conducted by The Border Consortium demonstrates that some refugees have temporarily returned to Myanmar or have voluntarily visited Myanmar to explore opportunities. The vast majority of those who were interviewed had returned to rural areas, thus some of the issues identified were substantial barriers to return, including the high levels of continued militarisation in some areas, a lack of basic rights and freedoms, and a poor functioning rule of law. Whilst those interviewed had returned to rural areas, preliminary discussions conducted by IRC inside the refugee camps had shown that some are willing to return to urban areas if opportunities exist.
7 Asian Development Bank, http://www.adb.org/countries/myanmar/economy 8 A report prepared by Dr Thet Lwin, Vice President, Myanmar Arts and Science Academics Association and Dr Tun Aung, Vice Rector, Yangon University of Economics, Yangon University of Economics in the Myanmar Business Today, Vol 2, Issue 29. 9 The Border Consortium (2014), “What refugees say…”
8
A role for the private sector There are many opportunities for the private sector to play a role in investing in training and employment opportunities for refugees and migrant workers, both in Thailand, and upon their return to Myanmar. In parallel there is a strong business case for engagement in order to provide companies with much needed skilled workers. Companies can contribute their support on this issue in the following ways: Working in partnership with NGOs: Companies can assess their own future needs and work with NGOs on the vocational training and knowledge transfer that will ensure that they have a pool of qualified talent. Helping to develop the skills set that the private sector needs for expansion in Myanmar will help the company, the economy and refugees. Skills based volunteering: With refugees in camps and migrant workers keen to further strengthen their skills, companies could consider developing skills based volunteering conducting training in areas such as communications and interview techniques, sales skills, marketing and customer services. Internship programmes: Companies can help to provide ‘on the job’ training through developing internship programmes targeting refugees and migrant workers. Whilst helping to build skills, the company also has the opportunity to identify and retain talent. Such programmes might usefully be targeted at younger workers. Financial donations: Given the importance in providing adequate skills and knowledge to refugees and migrants to ensure that they can compete in the labour market in Myanmar, companies can provide financial donations to support training and development programmes that are aligned with their business needs. Advocating equal opportunities: Playing a part in providing an environment which provides refugees and migrant workers with a level playing field for employment opportunities, ensuring that they can sustain their livelihood in the future. Thought leadership: Provide strategic and constructive research and advocacy to identify the best approach for the private sector to support refugees and migrant workers. This could include commissioning research on identifying an effective strategy the return of refugees and migrant workers, creating greater awareness amongst the business sector and advocating public policy reform.
www.csr-asia.com About CSR Asia: Since 2004, CSR Asia has built capacity and promoted awareness of sustainable development across the region. Through its expanding global presence and our team of specialists, CSR Asia provide cutting-edge research, strategy advisory, networking and executive education services with an informed understanding of evolving CSR issues on the ground. About IRC: IRC works in over 40 different countries around the world. In Thailand, IRC has been working with displaced communities fleeing conflict and poverty since 1976. IRC is accountable and transparent, and has earned numerous awards as a first class international non-government organisation. With over three decades of experience working with refugees and migrants in Thailand, IRC is globally renowned for its work with communities displaced by conflicts or natural disasters.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this publication is provided for general purposes only. While every effort has been made to ensure that the information is accurate and up to date at the time of going to press, CSR Asia accepts no responsibility for any loss that may arise information contained in this publication.