KIC- Some people say, “Home is where the heart is.” That the case for Nag Lin Lin (not her real name), a young Burmese woman who lives and works in Bangkok, but, wants desperately to live at home with her family in Kyeik Don, sub-township in Kawka Reik township, in Karen State.
But, like many young Burmese, she has to continue working in Thailand to help support her family financially, because they are unable to meet the rising cost of living at home.
"It's like a vicious circle. I don't know when I can go back home. But, I really want to go back home."
Burmese migrant worker, living in Bangkok.
"I arrived in Thailand three years ago. I began to work as a cleaner and a cook in a Thai home. However, I only earn 6,000 baht per month. Some of that money I have sent back to my family and used some of it for myself,” she said.
“It's like a vicious circle. I don't know when I can go back home. But, I really want to go back home.”
The 22 year old wants to continue her studies, but, she is unable to because of the economic hardship of her family. She quit school when she was in standard 9. Then she left for Thailand with other friends.
Since arriving in Thailand, in 2006, she has sent half of her earnings to her mother and her young sister, who has been studying at a local school. The money is used to meet her family’s needs and cover her sister’s school fees and other costs.
Even though she sends money back home, there is not enough for her family because of high food prices and other costs in Burma. They also have to pay taxes collected by local authorities.
The Burmese Army (SPDC), Karen Peace Force (KPF) and Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA) have bases in Kyein Don Sub-township.
It has been reported, these armed forces have collected money from villagers to cover the costs of their food and construction of buildings and camps. In addition, local people have been forced to work for these military groups.
As well, villagers are forced to pay taxes annually to local authorities for their paddy fields, farms and gardens.
"There are many administration authority groups in my village. The SPDC often collects various taxes. The DKBA also collects money for military operations and forces villagers to be porters. As well, KPF collects taxes," she said. "I don' know when we will have relief. It is a vicious circle", she added.
In this area, the local people mainly depend on work in paddy farms and cultivating gardens. This work provided enough food and income to support their family in the past. But, currently, it's not enough for them because of the economic downturn, skyrocketing prices and various taxes.
The military regime said in the government controlled media that it is working on and implementing development projects for all citizens. However, the government has never implemented development projects in the area where Nang Lin Lin and her family live.
Therefore, the villagers are getting poorer and poorer.
Because of this economic hardship, the pressure to provide for family members falls to young people who are forced to work so the family can survive.
Many young people cannot continue their studies and are forced to leave school.
So, they migrate to neighboring Thailand and find work to help their parents, who depend on the income from their jobs.
Youths who migrate into Thailand have to work in various jobs. Men have to work at hard-jobs such as day laborers, construction workers and working in steel factories. Women have to work as domestic servants, sales clerks, restaurant staff and food processing factory workers.
It's estimated there are about four million Burmese working in Thailand and other countries in South East Asia and the subcontinent, because it is difficult to find a job in Burma. Many of them find living and working abroad very difficult because of the language barrier, missing their homes and families while living in a foreign country and the risk of arrest if they are in the foreign country illegally.
Even though they have been working hard in foreign countries for many years, some people, like Nang Lin Lin, are not able to return to their homes.
Nang Lin Lin said that she will continue to work in Bangkok, Thailand, to help her family survive.
But, her heart is a home.
