According to statements from Myanmar nationals in Thailand and Thai immigration authorities, Thai officials are continuously arresting Myanmar citizens who are working in prohibited occupations such as retail sales, motorcycle repair, and driving. On February 27, during an inspection of a retail store in Chiang Mai, two Myanmar nationals were found working as sales staff without proper legal documentation and work permits, leading to their arrest as reported by Chiang Mai Immigration.
Similarly, on February 25, Thai police arrested a Myanmar couple in Ranong who were selling over 5,000 different cosmetic and consumer products online following a complaint. Thailand has numerous occupations that are restricted for foreigners, and due to Myanmar nationals engaging in these prohibited jobs, Thai authorities are frequently targeting and arresting Myanmar workers based on complaints. The situation has become increasingly concerning as Thai authorities are specifically focusing on Myanmar nationals working in these restricted sectors.
Ko Ye Min, a Myanmar labor rights activist in Thailand, warns that the increase in complaints against Myanmar workers is partly due to their spending patterns during Thailand’s economic downturn, with some Myanmar nationals openly displaying wealth through large purchases of cars and houses. He emphasizes that this is a critical time for Myanmar workers in Thailand to exercise caution. The Thai authorities are immediately deporting arrested Myanmar nationals back to the military council, and according to CDM soldier Maung Aung Set Paing, who managed to escape, the terrorist military is forcibly recruiting young men among those deported from Thailand into military service and subjecting them to military training.
