Myanmar migrants protected in accordance with the law

 July 24, 2017

At the 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 5th regular session 31st day meeting held yesterday, Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe said Myanmar oversea workers including housemaids will be protected in accordance with the law.

The Union Minister was responding to a question by Daw Ei Ei Pyone of Ayeyawady Region constituency 8 on government plan to protect Myanmar oversea workers including housemaids.

The Union Minister added that at present, housemaids were not officially sent but those who went abroad to work as housemaids went with either a visit visa or to work in some other type of works. On departure from Myanmar, they were not registered as going abroad to work as housemaid but in the host country, they were registered as housemaids.
Whether they went officially or unofficially to work, whenever there is any problem, relevant embassy official ensure that full rights under the host country’s laws were obtained. If there is a case of human trafficking, action is taken according to Anti Trafficking in Persons Law together with Ministry of Home Affair’s Anti-human Trafficking Police Force. Discussions are underway with civil society groups and agency groups in Singapore that provides supports and protections of workers and housemaids from Myanmar.

In order to provide work opportunities, arrangements will be made to send workers officially in accordance with the law at an appropriate time for appropriate type of workers said the Union Minister.

In responding to a question by U Kin Shein of Taninthayi Region constituency 9 on appointing township religious affairs department head, Union Minister for Religious Affairs and Culture Thura U Aung Ko said in townships where there is no township religious affairs department head, township immigration and national registration department head work concurrently as township religious affairs department head and any religious affairs matters in such townships are handled by the township immigration and national registration department head. There are plans to open dedicated township religious affairs department in townships that are far and difficult to travel from existing township religious affairs department but it will depend on having the organization setup, permission of the President office and budget allocation and once these are provided the township religious affairs department head will be appointed said the Union Minister.

Afterwards, questions by Dr. Win Myint of Bago Region constituency 11, U Ye Htut of Sagaing Region constituency 5 and U Min Naing of Sagaing Region constituency 12 were answered by  Deputy Minister for Electricity and Energy Dr. Tun Naing, Union Election Commission member U Hla Tint and Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population U Thein Swe.

The Hluttaw then decided and confirmed the bill amending the special marriage act that had been confirmed and sent with amendment by Pyithu Hluttaw, bill amending the Myanmar divorce act, bill amending the guardian and ward law and bill amending the Christian Marriage Act.

Next, a report of Amyotha Hluttaw Citizens Fundamental Rights, Democracy and Human Rights Committee on its conducts during the duration of the 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 5th regular session was read by the committee secretary U Myo Htat (a) Salai Myo Htike of Chin State constituency 12 and Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker announced interested Hluttaw representatives who want to discuss the report to register their names.

In the day’s meeting matter of replacing members and reorganizing Amyotha Hluttaw committees was submitted to the Hluttaw and decided on, committee report on questions and motions submitted to 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 4th regular session and Amyotha Hluttaw local and foreign non-govern ment organization committee report on its activities during the 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 5th regular session were read by relevant committee members and announcement was made for interested Hluttaw representatives who want to discuss the reports to register their names.

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar