Migrants are one ‘at risk’ group of people in the terrible floods that are affecting Thais and Thailand at this time for which the government needs to have a clear policy and response. Their risk comes from problems with documentation (they are undocumented, employers seize documents), problems with employers (they are tied to employers, employers won’t allow them to leave, employers are holding onto past salaries so migrants don’t leave with unpaid registration debt), problems with language and communication and they don’t have a home to go to in Thailand (they cannot like many thais go back to their villages, their only choice is stay in flooded areas, find a shelter, or go back to Myanmar). Ministry of Labour Thailand has said it is clear policy to keep these workers here if possible for everyone’s benefit once floods recede. But migrants are faced with information shortages and are travelling back to Myanmar in large numbers. NGOs and CBOs report concern for undocumented workers or workers registered without passports returning home and issues of extortion, trafficking or abuse that may arise from these workers hurrying back to Myanmar without having enough information to make clear decisions and corrupt officials on both sides of the Thai/Myanmar border. In particular, for those returning, there is no work for them in Myanmar anyway so they will have to return again to Thailand later in debt and high cost.

Number of Migrants Involved

From my analysis of official government statistics of only registered migrant workers, as follows in at risk areas.

·         Bangkok: 176, 367 + 200, 000 = 380, 000 (N.B. not all of BKK is flooded, of course)

·         Greater Bangkok: 250, 334 + 150, 000 = 400, 000 (N.B. not all of greater BKK is flooded, of course)

·         Nonthaburi:  40, 000 + 20, 000 = 60, 000

·         Pathum Thani: 43, 000 + 31, 000 = 75, 000

·         Nakhon Pathom: 31, 000 + 12, 000 = 43, 000

·         Ayuttayah: 12, 000 + 7, 000 = 20, 000

·         Nakhon Sawaan: 4, 000 + 3, 000 = 7, 000

That’s a million migrants in those areas, only registered. There are significant numbers of unregistered workers also at most risk.

Government Provisions to Migrants

Wat Rai Khing in Nakhon Pathom was designated by Ministry of Labour as shelter for migrants affected by floods (see http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Migrant-workers-given-flood-refuge-30168390.html). However, the Director of the center (Mr Suwan – 0818169855) insists with 500 or more people from Ayuttayah and more arriving from the evacuated Thammasat campus, the shelter is now FULL or approaching full. He advised that all flood affected migrants should be taken to Don Muang shelter. The Director of Migration at MoL, Mr Anurak (0898141584) is concerned that Don Muang is not accepting migrants. When asked where to send migrant so grassroots organisations can spread the word, the Ministry of Labour has been unclear. However, now Director General of Employment Mr Prawit (0818313493) said 10 minutes ago that Wat Rai Khing can accept up to 1, 000 migrants but there are only enough sleeping places for 500, so the Ministry is urgently seeking to address this situation through extending the facility and also looking at alternative facilities in other provinces. Wat Rai Khing now needs urgent aid and assistance to extend migrant facilities also.

Worst Affected

Talaat Simum Muang and Talaat Thai areas of Rangsit/Pathum Thani, local networks are reporting very deep water and the most chaos for significant migrant communities there who usually work in wholesale market/vegetable and fruit markers. Pictures of this site are attached, with migrants waiting at shop fronts, on higher ground and on bridges for . This is latest at risk area, but many migrants were caught up in floods in Nakhon Sawaan and Ayuttayah also.

Migrant Responses

Migrants are confused at this time with little information reaching them. Yesterday from Pathum Thani/Rangsit areas, migrants were hiring 10 wheelers at 1, 500 Baht per person to go to Mae Sot, others engaging expensive exploitative brokers to go back to Myanmar. Reports of police and border exploitation on way to Mae Sot and at Myanmar/Thai border are extensive (http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=22308). Migrants are worried and in low spirits, confused and depressed by what is happening. Without choices and information, those who can just want to go back to Myanmar.

Myanmar Embassy Response

No clear response from Myanmar Embassy in Thailand, although the Embassy has provided some minimal assistance through NGOS and paid out money to transport small groups back to Myanmar. It is not clear that the Thai Government has actually engaged the Embassy or not at this stage, with different officers saying different things.

Some Good News

Migrant Worker Rights Network (MWRN) in Mahachai, Samut Sakorn conducted donation activities yesterday raising almost 200, 000 Thai Baht to assist Thais affected by the flooding (see picture attached). They also raised 2 x 6 wheeler trucks of food. One truck left for Ayuttayah with the Thai Labour Solidarity Committee this morning to spread the food. The rest of the aid has been given to government authorities. MWRN will have an urgently meeting tonight so they can apportion some money to the shelter for migrants at Wat Rai Khing and plan further support activities. Link in Thai is at http://prachatai.com/journal/2011/10/37558