A huge gap exists in access to health care for documented and undocumented workers from Myanmar in Thailand, according to a report by UNDP.
Mental health issues are common among those undocumented Myanmar worker.
Health care access also varies with their locations and its coverage is the highest in Thailand, the report said.
Due to the system of hospital registration based on their work permit, health care access is disrupted when they have to move to another location, it stated.
It estimated that 2.5 million people, who entered legally, are working in Thailand and most of them are from Myanmar, Cambodia, Laos and other neighbouring countries. About 75% of them are Myanmar people, it also said.
The report described that there are unequal working conditions and benefits between legal and illegal workers.
While sending legal workers, Myanmar held a meeting with Thailand authorities on 6 December to be able to issue identity cards to undocumented Myanmar workers. Among the issued discussed were the renewal of MOU and labour recruiting agreement, issuance of pink cards for temporary work permit as decided by the Thai government, future plans to allow those with Certificate of Identity (CI) to work and stay, and safe and official channels for sending their remittances home.
Thit Taw/ZN
