Over 600 women from several different backgrounds marched on the streets in Chiangmai, northern Thailand yesterday, calling for equal rights entitled to their workplace especially in Thailand but also in the global politics and economics.

On 8 March, the International Women’s Day, women groups including transgenders were holding and shouting their motto, demanding many different rights while they were marching on the streets to the square of Three Kings monument in the heart of Chiangmai. Dr. Duentemduang Na Chiangmai, Lord Mayor of the Chiangmai Municipality, also joined the gathering.

“We have to promote better conditions for women in the society. Because most are still being discriminated not only in society but more so in their family,” she said.

Most of the women at the gathering were migrant workers from Burma. They were calling for equal access to social services, migrants to have the rights to contribute and benefit from social security of Thailand and not to be laid off from their jobs.

“We want to get freedom to move and travel. And to get equal payment in our workplace. Among the migrant workers, most women don’t have safety and don’t get equal payment,” said a migrant worker from Mae Sod.

“We also would like to request the government of Thailand to stop harassing migrant workers,” said a migrant worker from Chiangmai.

Women are also asking they will be given more space to participate in global politics and economics as well because women do not have much space in making decisions and leadership in economic zones, said Jackie Pollock, a member of Migrant Assistance Program MAP.

“Women are angry that the world economy is in such a mess. When we look at the governments of the world it is mostly men in control.  And they had made a real mess out of our economy,” she said.

“I would also say that every migrant and refugees are waiting to celebrate Women’s Day in their own country. But in order to make it possible there must be political change in Burma,” she added.