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- By CNI News
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CNI News
30 July 2022
As Thailand has planned to employ Myanmar workers to solve labour shortages and issues of illegal workers, measures are being taken to send Myanmar workers to Thailand, labour activists told the CNI.
Thailand currently needs 500,000 foreign workers and plans are underway to employ workers from Myanmar, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam. As Thailand has planned to employ the largest number of Myanmar workers, measures are being taken to send Myanmar workers.
The kingdom will employ foreign workers under the existing MOU system as well as the border pass system and issuing temporary work permits (Baht pink card) to illegal workers, U Min Oo, a labour activist from FED.
U Min Oo said, “It is true that they have approved the plan but they haven’t issued a statement about it. They haven’t announced the date to implement the plan. They said they would give priority to the MOU system and then would allow people from ten border provinces to apply for border passes under section 64 to work in Thailand. However, it will be difficult for them to employ 500,000 foreign workers. Even now we have been able to send only tens of thousands of Myanmar workers. I think they will have to issue official permits to illegal workers.”
A Baht pink card. (KIC)
Thai authorities rarely issue Baht pink cards but illegal workers should try to receive those cards, which guarantee full labour rights, Executive Director U Htoo Chit told the CNI.
U Htoo Chit said, “Situations are different from one province to another. Migrant workers can earn a basic salary of Baht 320 to 340. It also depends on skills and types of job. Most importantly, they can enjoy the benefits of social security funds. They will be able to change jobs if they do not like their current jobs. They will be able to enjoy full labour rights. Pink card holders can enjoy the same rights as MOU workers.”
Thailand has planned to employ more than one million foreign workers by 13 February 2025 and pink card holders, who are required to renew their cards once a year, are also included under the scheme.
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- By CNI News
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CNI News
30 July 2022
Trishaw operators in Thingangyum Township in Yangon Region have begun installing electric systems on their trishaws to transport passengers.
Since electric trishaws could reduce the use of physical strength and increase incomes, operators started installing electric systems on the trishaws, Ko Than Cho, a trishaw operator in Thingangyun Township told the CNI.
Ko Than Cho said, “We use electric bicycles for our trishaw because they can reduce the use of physical strength. We have to use physical strength daily. So, we are very tired and we cannot earn much. Now, we can make more money because electric trishaws reduce the use of physical strength and are three times as fast as pedal trishaws.
An electric trishaw operator and a pedal trishaw operator.
It cost MMK 300,000 to install the electric system on a trishaw previously but the cost increased to as much as MMK 470,000 recently.
Electric trishaws were introduced at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic and the number of electric trishaws has increased gradually. Now, there are at least three trishaws at a trishaw stand.
However, pedal trishaw operators who cannot afford to install the electric system see their incomes drop due to their electric rivals, said U Kyaw Myint, a pedal trishaw operator.
He said, “Whether to install the electric system or not depends on investment because it costs as much as MMK 700,000 to do so. I don’t have that much money and I have to pedal my trishaw as much as my physical strength allows me. When they have completed three trips, we can make only one trip. Passengers also want to get to their destinations faster. We are old and very slow. So, passengers prefer electric trishaws.”
A trishaw installed with the electric system.
There are more than 100 electric trishaws in Thingangyun Township, especially near Nga Moe Yeik and Sanpya Market wards.
Licenses have been issued for pedal trishaws by the Yangon City Development Committee, which haven’t issued licenses to electric trishaws.
However, action is not taken against electric trishaw operators because they follow traffic rules like their pedal counterparts.
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- By CNI News
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CNI News
30 July 2022
Duwa Lashi La, the acting president of the National Unity Government, has urged political parties on 28th July not to contest the elections held by the State Administration Council.
In his emergency state of the union address, he urged political parties to reject the elections to be held as its political exit in 2023 by the SAC.
He said, “Finally, I would like to call for political parties not to support and contest the elections to be held in 2023 as their political exit by Min Aung Hlaing and the junta.”
Elections are peaceful means of resolving political issues and the Pao National Organization would contest the elections held by the government, Secretary-2 Khun Tun Shwe of the PNO told the CNI.
Khun Tun Shwe said, “The PNO will uphold peaceful means of resolving political issues and elections are peaceful means. Only when elections are held, will the public be able to participate in politics gradually as they did previously. We urge the government to hold elections to establish a government of the people as soon as possible when stability has been restored. Only then, will the military be able to withdraw from politics. We will contest the elections held by the SAC.”
The Arakan National Party.
Similarly, Political Bureau Member U Tun Aung Kyaw of the Arakan National Party told the CNI that political parties would be abolished if they did not contest in at least three constituencies under the political parties registration law.
He said, “From the point of view of law, we have the political parties registration law which has been accepted by successive governments. Under the law, if a political party has been registered with the union election commission, it will have to contest in at least three constituencies. Otherwise, it will be abolished by the commission under the law.”
The SAC chairman promised to hold elections in 2023.
The Mon Unity Party.
The Mon Unity Party is a political party officially registered with the Union Election Commission and if it does not contest elections, the party will be abolished. Therefore, we will have to contest elections whosoever holds, Spokesperson Naing Shwe Than told the CNI.
He said, “As I always said, if an officially registered political party does not contest elections, it will be abolished. So, we will have to contest elections whosoever holds.”
Currently, there are 92 political parties officially registered with the Union Election Commission, according to the UEC.
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- By CNI News
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CNI News
29 July 2022
As checkpoints have tightened security control on transportation of goods from the mainland including Yangon to Rakhine State, the commodity flow slowed down and truck drivers had to wait for a long time to pass through checkpoints, resulting in rising prices of goods in Rakhine State, according to local residents in Rakhine State.
Security was tightened at the checkpoint Ann Township at the entrance to Rakhine State and trucks had to wait three day to one week to pass through the checkpoint. As a result, goods were delayed and prices rose, U Aung Kyaw Mya, a local resident, told the CNI.
“As inspections are carried out thoroughly for goods transported from the mainland to Rakhine State at the checkpoint in Ann, one of the entrances to the state, goods have been delayed. So, prices have risen when the goods were delivered to us. All goods can be transported with the permission of the regional Ministry of Border Affairs and Security. It is very difficult to get permission. Even when the permission has been received, the inspected goods very thoroughly. So, goods are delayed unnecessarily,” he explained.
Some goods were in shortages frequently due to delays, according to local residents.
Moreover, goods that were transported via waterway due to road restrictions were also delayed, an official at Lay Wadi Construction Materials Shop in Kyauktaw told the CNI.
Freight trucks and passengers being inspected at a checkpoint in Rakhine State.
“Currently, we are transporting our goods via waterway from Yangon to Sittwe and again use road transportation here. So, commodity flow is again delayed due to various difficulties. Inspection is tightened everywhere. In the past, about 50 trucks operated along the Asia Highway but there are only ten trucks on the highway. We can’t understand why the trucks were delayed,” she said.
Furthermore, NRC cards are also being checked in townships in Rakhine State and even travel from one township to another is controlled tightly.
Transportation of goods, fertilizers, cement and some items were restricted in the past, but electric equipment and medicine are also permitted to be carried with the permission of the regional border affairs and security ministers currently, Ko Moe Oo of Shwe Pyi Thit Passengers and Goods Transport told the CNI.
“Roads are in very bad conditions and vehicles have to face difficulties. And they are closed at 6 pm. It takes two to three days to travel a trip that took only one day previously. As there are checkpoints, commodities are in short supply. Truck drivers cannot transport refrigerators, wires and medicines without the permission of the regional ministry of border affairs and security. Without the permissions, trucks had to stop at checkpoints for a long time and were allowed to continue when some money was given to them,” a local resident said.
As the control of goods was tightened in Rakhine State and transportation was delayed, some goods were damaged and local farmers suffered losses.
In addition, travels between the northern and southern parts of Maungdaw Township, commodity flow in the northern part was disrupted and some commodities are in shortages, according to local residents.
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- By CNI News
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CNI News
29 July 2022
The Kachin Independence Army and the National Democratic Alliance Army told the CNI that they had no decision on whether to join the second round of peace talks invited by the SAC or not.
KIA spokesperson Col Naw Bu said that the central committee of the KIA had no decision on whether to join the peace talks and their current stance was the same as that in the statement issued on 5th May.
He said, “Our central committee doesn’t have any decision on whether to join the peace talks. Our stance will be the same as that in the statement issued on 5th May. Nothing has changed.”
The KIA issued a statement on 5th May that they would not attend the peace talks offered by the SAC because there was no agenda on political dialogues and those who should be invited were not done so.
Senior General Min Aung Hlaing meets the vice chairman of the UWSA.
The SAC has designated the National Unity Government and the People’s Defence Force as terrorists organizations.
There were no discussions about joining the second round of peace talks, The NDAA (Mongla) General Secretary U Kyi Myint told the CNI.
U Kyi Myint said, “We haven’t had any discussion about it so far. Recently, we have been busy with COVID-19 prevention and other issues. We haven’t had any communication with them recently.”
During the first round of peace talks invited by the SAC, the NDAA, the Shan State Reconstruction Army (RCSS/SSA), the New Mon State Party (NMSP), the United Wa State Army (UWSA), the Democratic Karen Benevolent Army (DKBA), the Karen National Union/Karen National Liberation Army- Peace Council (KNU/KNLA-PC), the Arakan Liberation Party (ALP), the PaO National Liberation Organization (PNLO) and Lahu Democratic Union (LDU) held separate negotiations with the SAC.
However, the KIA, the Shan State Progressive Party (SSPP/SSA), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Chin National Front (CNF), the All Bruma Student Democratic Front (ABSDF), Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP) and the Three Brotherhood Alliance such as the Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), the Palaung State Liberation Front (PSLF/TNLA) and the Arakan Army (AA) refused to join the talks.
During the 18th press conference held on 26th July 2022, Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said that preparations were being made for the second round of peace talks.
However, the SAC has not disclosed the organizations that will join the peace talks so far.
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- By CNI News
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CNI News
28 July 2022
As foreign currencies are appreciating against MMK, overseas workers are incurring higher costs, employment agencies told the CNI.
Employment agencies said that oversea workers who previously had to pay MMK 5 million service fees to work in Japan now incur MMK 8 million while service fees for those who go to Malaysia have risen by MMK 600,000.
Director Ko Nay Oo Ko of Naytic Asia, an employment agency sending workers abroad, told the CNI, “We have to buy air tickets in US$ at market exchange rates. Japanese companies pay ticket fees for trainees, but they transfer the money through banks, which convert foreign currencies into MMK at official exchange rates. So, trainees receive ticket fees in MMK. However, when they buy tickets, they have to pay in US$. As a result, they have to buy US$ at market rates of MMK 2,500. So, it is a burden for trainees. We don’t know what will happen in the future.”
As a result, employment agencies have to lower service fees for workers.
Although the Central Bank of Myanmar set the official exchange rate at K 1,850 per dollar, market exchange rates have risen to as much as MMK 2,500 per dollar recently while that of Baht and Yen have reached MMK 70 per Baht and MMK 18 per Yen.
As overseas workers have to pay an amount of MMK equivalent to service fees set in foreign currencies to agencies, they suffer losses due to appreciation of foreign currencies, Ko Naing, who is trying to work abroad, told the CNI.
“The main problem is the depreciation of MMK, as we have to pay service fees set in foreign currencies. Agencies accept service fees not at official exchange rates but at market exchange rates. So, the lower the MMK drops, the higher the fees they have to pay. In the past, we needed to pay on MMK 2 million at the market exchange rate of MMK 2,000 per US$ but we will have to pay MMK 2.5 as the market exchange rate has gone up to MMK 2,500 per US$,” he explained.
Since workers who signed contracts previously will pay service fees at the market exchange rates of the time but rates have gone up, agencies are suffering losses, Ko Nway Ko Ko Lin of Pwint Phu Aung Agency told the CNI.
Agencies have to buy US$ at the market exchange rates, which are changing from time to time and it is difficult to set the service fees exactly, he added.
Ko Nway Ko Ko Lin told the CNI, “A few days ago, I signed contracts with workers who will go to Malaysia. The market exchange rate at that time was just above MMK 2,200 per US$. So, I told them I would take service fees in MMK equivalent to US$ 850 approved by the government for each of them at the market exchange rate of MMK 2,300 per US$ and would reimburse what was more than the rate. However, the rates rose to MMK 2,480 per US$ within half an hour. So, I had to tell the service feed to them again. We face a lot of such problems.”
Although workers cost a lot of money to work abroad, salaries they get abroad are very high in terms of MMK and they might be profitable, Director Ko Nay Oo Ko of Naytic Asia Agency told the CNI.
“They may incur higher costs at the beginning and will have to pay MMK 7 or 8 million service fees instead of only MMK 5 million in the past. However, when they work in Japan, they will earn in foreign currencies and they will be able to cover the costs within three or four months. As they earn in foreign currencies, MMK is depreciating and they will get a larger amount when their foreign currencies are converted into MMK. When they send Y 100,000 back home in the past, their families get MMK 1.2 million or MMK 1.3 million. Now, they will get MMK 1.7 million when they send Y 100,000. So, they can get a lot of money,” he said.
Due to the current political situation, shortages of jobs and high commodity prices, a lot of people are trying to work abroad despite high costs, according to overseas employment agencies.
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- By CNI News
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CNI News
28 July 2022
Plans are underway to implement agri-based tourism in townships surrounding Yanong in the upcoming dry season, according to Myanmar Tourism Association.
Tour destinations will be implemented in organic plantations and paddy fields in townships on the othe bank of Yangon including Twantay, Kawhmu, Thanlyin, Taikkyi and Hmawbi, Chairman of Myanmar Tour Operators Associations U Naung Naung Han told the CNI.
“As it is agricultural tourism, the projects are mainly implemented in rice cultivation areas like Twantay and Kawhmu and on the other bank of Yangon like model villages in Thanlyin and Kyauktan. Moreover, we have community-based tourism groups in such areas. They seem to carry out their duties. So, such groups are likely to emerge in Kyauktan. In Taikkyi and Hmawbi, there are shortcuts and plantations to implement agricultural tourism,” he said.
Agricultural tourism had been implemented before the pandemic but it has been hampered by the long pandemic and the political changes. Now efforts are being made to resume the projects.
Concerning the agro-based tourism to be carried out, tour operator U That Lwin Toe told the CNI, “It sounds very nice but I don’t know who will visit the sites. Tourists are very important for us. People from our country also visit other countries. However, foreign tourists prioritize security. Furthermore, foreigners regard the areas as red alert ones. So, most shun our country because it is very difficult for local people to travel from one place to another.”
It was learnt that the tour program would be introduced in the dry season in October.
The MTEA is conducting data collection with plantation owners and has started negotiations with them.
Agro-based tourism is being implemented in PyinOoLwin and Shan State and can attract domestic foreign tourists, it was learnt.
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- By CNI News
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CNI News
28 July 2022
According to their recent statement, federal democratic forces seemed to drop the peace process from their priorities, Col Khun Okkar, an ethnic leader, told the CNI.
Federal democratic forces issued a statement on 26 July, saying that the executions of Ko Jimmy, Ko Phyo Zeyar Thaw, Ko Hla Myo Aung and Ko Aung Thura Zaw were not in accordance with the law and rules and regulations, and the executions should shed lights on the true nature of the SAC.
Col Khun Okkar told the CNI, “Some members of the democratic forces are signatories of the NCA but they do not give priority to the peace process. It seems that they are not thinking about solving political issues through political means.”
Federal democratic forces called for all political parties, revolutionary forces and ethnic groups at home and abroad to cooperate with them to topple the SAC.
The federal democratic forces comprised the National Unity Government (NUG), the Committee Representing the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), the Karen National Union (KNU), the Karenni National Progressive Party (KNPP), the Chin National Front (CNF), the All Burma Students Democratic Front (ABSDF) and the National League for Democracy (NLD).
the statement issued by the federal democratic forces.
Under the current circumstances, 70 percent of the country could be damaged and it was necessary for anyone to rescue the country, Col Khun Okkar said.
He said, “If it is impossible to stop the situation, most of the country would be damaged. I think it is necessary for everyone to rescue the country and to build the union in the future. When the situation is tense, rival groups will fight each other but when the situation deteriorates, they might have second thoughts.”
Federal democratic forces announced that they would fight to end the military dictatorship by using any available means including political, military, diplomatic and administrative arenas together with the people.
Maj-Gen Zaw Min Tun said at the 18th press conference of the SAC that it was implementing the peace process and making efforts to hold dialogues for the second time
Some members of the federal democratic forces which called for the resistance against the SAC in political, military, diplomatic and administrative areans are signatories to the NCA including the KNU, the CNF and the ABSDF.
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CNI News
27 July 2022
Contrary to recent news reports, rice millers in Ayeyarwady Region denied receiving advance payments from the Tatmadaw to sell their rice.
Hinthada District Rice Millers’ Association Chairman U Soe Myint told the CNI that they had not received rice orders or advance payments from the Tatmadaw and they did not have much monsoon paddy left in the district.
“We haven’t received any rice orders from the Tatmadaw. If the Tatmadaw purchases rice, it will place an order with Myanmar Rice Millers’ Association, which will inform regional associations of the order. We haven’t heard anything. The Tatmadaw didn't purchase rice from our district and we don’t usually have much monsoon paddy left by July or August. Some traders may have stored a little like the Sinthukha variety, whose prices have risen to about K 1 million per 100 baskets recently,” he said.
It was reported that the Tatmadaw had purchased all paddy in Ayeyawady Region by making advance payments and did not allow farmers and traders to sell their paddy to others.
Chairman U Thein Aung of the Association for Development of Farmers’ Livelihood told the CNI that the Tatmadaw used to purchase rice from Ayeyarwady Region in previous years but millers were allowed to decide whether they would sell their rice to the Tatmadaw or not and the Tatmadaw bought as much as it needed.
“The Tatmadaw purchased rice from Ayeyawady Region for its rations almost every year. It made advance payments to millers who wanted to sell rice to it. The Tatmadaw placed orders for certain amounts of rice from Ayeyarwady Region and made advance payments at fixed floor prices to millers who wanted to sell rice to it. That was its normal purchasing practice in previous years,” he explained.
Farmers incurred high cultivation costs this year due to rising prices of fertilizers and fuel oil.
In Ayeyarwady Region, it cost about K 450,000 to cultivate one acre of paddy, which yielded about 70 baskets.
Therefore, the basic reference price of paddy should be set at an amount that is profitable for farmers, U Thein Aung added.
“The basic floor price for paddy should be set at least at K 750,000 per 100 baskets so that farmers do not suffer losses. If the price is set at K 900,000 per 100 baskets, farmers will be able to enjoy profits. The floor price at K 750,000 is just enough to cover their costs,” he told the CNI.
As dollar exchange rates are rising against Kyat, traders are likely to offer high prices for paddy this year, according to rice traders and millers.
Ayeyarwady Region has the largest paddy cultivating acreage with highest yields in Myanmar.