Newsletter

Currently, in Samut Sakhon province, where our company is located, there are approximately 3 million Myanmar people living there. Due to its proximity to the sea, the area has developed through seafood processing since ancient times, and many Myanmar people have settled as workers in these processing industries. Recently, more machinery processing factories have been established, leading to a significant number of Myanmar workers in the precision processing industry. Our company’s employees are granted work visas for a period of one year, with annual renewals. They typically return home every 3-4 years and spend about a month with their families before receiving a new work visa and returning to work at the factory. In this regard, the settlement rate of Myanmar people is very high, and many have worked in the same position for up to 10 years. Having dedicated and stable employees in a manufacturing industry that requires expertise is a valuable asset for maximizing productivity.

Most of the employees come from areas around the capital city, Naypyidaw, and the journey home takes up to 2.5 days each way. Traveling from the factory to Mae Hong Son in Thailand takes about 6 hours by bus. After crossing the border, it takes approximately 30 hours by bus to reach the capital, Naypyidaw (due to the cost, no one travels home by plane). Therefore, no one returns home every year.

About 80% of our Myanmar employees are married, and most of them are in families where both spouses work. They live in employee accommodations (spouses' rooms).
Marriage among Myanmar people happens at an early age, and for our employees, most get married around the age of 16.
Currently, the age structure of Myanmar employees is: male: 19 to 40 years old, female: 18 to 45 years old.
Families with children leave their kids at their hometown, and the parents there take care of them. Therefore, the once-a-year return home is the time to reunite with family. However, nowadays, due to the ability to make free phone calls or video calls through social media at any time, they feel like their families are always nearby.

On Sundays, which is their only day off, they don't go out to explore the city but instead rest at the dormitory, cooking their own meals, listening to music, or browsing Facebook to relax. Their main purpose for working in Thailand is to work diligently and send most of their salary back to support their families.

Ms. Nan Zali Tun (21 years old)　★ Works in the Rubber Roller Quality Control Department.
		My name is Nan Zali Tun, and my nickname is Uwa. I first arrived in Thailand when I was 18 years old. This is my first job at the company, and now I have been in Thailand for almost 4 years. My Thai is not very good yet, but I try to learn by talking to my coworkers and friends every day. I am content with my life here, but I haven’t returned to my hometown for over 2 years (due to COVID-19). I would love to see my family back home soon. Quality control work requires following the set procedures continuously every day. However, when problems arise, I need to respond and report quickly, which can sometimes be stressful and exciting. During these times, I feel reassured because there is a Myanmar supervisor working alongside me. In my hometown, agriculture is the only occupation available. When I came to Thailand and started working in the factory, I was shocked and excited by all the new things every day. But now, I have become accustomed to life here. However, in 2021, due to the COVID-19 situation, working methods, life in the dormitory, and being restricted from going outside were all entirely new experiences for me. The year 2021 was very busy, stressful, and sometimes frightening. My goal is to work hard for 10 years, save as much money as I can, and then return to my hometown to build a house. Currently, I do not have a partner, so I work hard every day and spend my free time sewing, which is my hobby. I also enjoy chatting with coworkers, friends, and family. In 2022, I believe that COVID-19 will subside, and I will definitely get time off to return to my rural hometown in Myanmar. The most important thing for me right now is "my parents."