The curfew in Thailand following last week’s coup has affected business owners and Myanmar migrant workers, according to a border-based rights group.

After the enforcement of curfew, Myanmar migrants in major cities such as Bangkok and Chiang Mai get paid the minimum daily wage of Bt300 without overtime.

“A worker earns 300 baht per day in Bangkok, a big city where living costs are high. Workers normally have to work between 10 to 12 hours to earn overtime pay. Now, they cannot work overtime so their incomes have been affected,” said Moe Gyo, chairman of Joint Committee for Movement of Myanmar Citizens’ Affairs.

Although the minimum wage has been set at Bt300, Myanmar migrant workers residing in Tak Province only receive around 180 baht per day and they need to work overtime to cover their daily expenses. However, they are facing difficulties now as they cannot work overtime.

Due to political turmoil for the past six months in Thailand, the Thai military imposed martial law on May 21 and staged a coup on May 22.

Nearly 4 million Myanmar migrants are currently working in Thailand.

By Eleven Myanmar

Published on 31 May 2014