Prevention of HIV/AIDS Among Migrant Workers in Thailand

PHAMIT Site Profiles

MAP Foundation works with migrant laborers from various ethnic nationalities in Chiang Mai and with factory workers in Mae Sot to provide greater access to health information and services, and support the labour, health and women's rights of migrants and their families.

As of August, 2005

Tak Province (Mae Sot)

Mae Sot District in Tak Province sits on the Burmese border directly across from its sister border town of Myawaddy. The border towns are separated by the Moei River, which is easily crossed by a “friendship” bridge as well as at numerous other unofficial points by boat, or by foot during the dry season.

Being located at a main border crossing with Burma with lots of work opportunities, people from all over Burma are drawn to Mae Sot, with the most significant presence being Burmese, Karen and Muslim groups. In the Mae Tao Mai (or “New” Mae Tao) area, there are approximately fifteen factories. All the laborers in these factories are Burmese, and around two-thirds (almost 70 percent) of the workers are women. In one factory, all the laborers are women. Most women in these factories are aged 18- 25 and are single. Dormitories separate men and women, but allow married couples to stay together.

In smaller factories there are about 300-400 workers, whereas larger factories employ 800-900 people; the largest factory has around 3,000 workers. There is an estimated 10,000 workers in total in the Mae Tao Mai area, and most factories are garment factories, but there is also a furniture factory.

Factories generally pay 60-70 Baht a day. After housing, water and food expenses are deducted, the average wage earned is about 1,500 – 3,000 Baht a month ($36-$72). An average work day starts at around 8 or 9 a.m. with breaks for one hour at 12, and again at 5 p.m. They usually work until 9 p.m. The time after 6 p.m. is considered overtime, but they only receive 6 Baht per hour. There have been reports of overtime lasting longer than 9p.m. if there is an order pending. Most factories give one day off a month after pay day. If workers are sick, they get a day off but get no compensation.

In many factories, water for washing comes from a “pond” in the back that collects run-off. Water from these ponds is often unclean and of a greenish hue although most factories have separation tanks that draw water from these ponds and clean the water using a basic filtration system. One factory that provides drinking water from a deep well reportedly had an outbreak of diarrhea recently, possibly cholera, that affected 90 people.

The factories get hot, and during the hot season it is reported that a couple of women in each factory will faint over the course of the day. They are sent to the hospital if it is serious. Although people suffer respiratory problems related to dust, there does not seem to be a direct correlation between environmental conditions in the factories and breathing problems, even though it is suspected. Factory workers are not provided protective breathing equipment. Injuries are common in furniture factories. Although the employers will assist with treatment expenses, injured laborers are paid little compensation, and this is the hard part, because they have little saved if anything, and without work they have no income.

Single people reportedly use condoms when they have sex, whereas those who have a spouse or partner inside or outside the factory are more likely to use oral contraception pills. In the Mae Sot – Myawaddy area, there seems to be a high rate of unplanned pregnancy. It seems that the rate of unplanned pregnancy is generally low in factories though, and there is little indication that women in the factories are having abortions. The policy on allowing pregnant women to work in factories seems to vary from factory to factory, however, there is a strict rule that children are not allowed to stay in factories.

MAP's drop-in center is the main location for activities. The center mainly functions as a community resource library that attracts numerous migrant workers during their free-time. The library has been open since November of 2004, and books were donated by laborers, and bought by MAP. The library mainly has light reading for entertainment purposes, but there is also health literature available, as well as IEC materials and condoms available for free distribution. The library has become popular through word of mouth and now has 526 members with library cards. Many others without a card also come for leisure. On Fridays and Sundays up to 100 people may show up at one time after work has let out. Every month on a Sunday, MAP conducts one large workshop in the training center behind the library. The workshop usually has around thirty to thirty-five participants who come from different factories. Volunteers help organize these workshops.

MAP is developing a network of volunteers in factories in the Mae Tao Mai area. There are currently sixteen volunteers in nine factories. Each factory has around two volunteers, usually one man and one woman. Trainings for volunteers are also conducted at the center, and provide in-depth information on HIV/AIDS and reproductive health, teach techniques on how to transmit information to peers, and develop volunteers' problem solving skills. Volunteers are supported with a handbook, which they receive at the training and use for review at supplemental trainings.

Volunteers' responsibilities are basic, and mainly focus around distribution of condoms, oral contraception and IEC materials. Volunteers place condom boxes in bathrooms and dormitories, and maintain condom supplies. For women who want oral contraception pills, volunteers record their name on a list and the person must sign for the pills. Volunteers in the factories are the main mechanism for health referral services, including STI testing and treatment. For minor ailments factory workers prefer to go to the Mae Tao Clinic, whereas if the condition is severe they are referred to the hospital. Volunteers will assist with transportation arrangements, and will accompany the person if translation services are needed or if there is an issue of payment.

MAP supports community activities at the library / drop-in center as well. For Aung San Suu Kyi's birthday they had activities for over 100 people. Other festivals / holidays supported by MAP at the library have included Buddhist Lent, merit making activities for monks, and Occupational Health and Safety Day (April 28 th ). MAP is networked with various other groups in the area. These groups and MAP mutually benefit each other by providing health referral services, reproductive health information and services, promoting awareness of labor rights, and grappling with issues of gender violence (although just starting to touch on issues of domestic violence).