NAYPYITAW – There are about 4.4 million illegal Myanmar migrant workers living in Thailand and Malaysia.

So, the Myanmar government plans to create job opportunities for these people in local areas. Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Brig-Gen Kyaw Zan Myint made this remark in parliament at Nay Pyi Taw on Friday.

“We have learnt that two million people who were designated as illegal migrant workers are staying in Thailand and 2.4 million more in Malaysia,” Brig-Gen Kyaw Zan Myint said.

“With the aim to help illegal Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand and Malaysia become official workers, the Ministry of Home Affairs is carrying out tasks together with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Immigration and Population and Ministry of Labour, Employment and Social Welfare to issue Myanmar passports at Myanmar embassies in Thailand and Malaysia, plus in Myanmar-Thailand border areas, as well as provincial areas in Thailand under bilateral agreements,” he said.

“Up till September 10 this year, respective departments issued passports to more than 3.3 million Myanmar migrants in Thailand and Malaysia. We would like to present a report about plans to resettle the refugees including migrant workers in local areas cooperating with government committees from Kayin State and Taninthari Region.”

Myanmar signed agreements with authorities from Thailand and Malaysia in June, last year, to designate more than 4.4 million of illegal Myanmar migrant workers as official, according to a report by the deputy minister.

By: Eleven Myanmar