MAE SOT — The Migrant Assistance Program Foundation (MAP), a Thailand-based NGO, launched a FM radio station last week in the Mae Sot border area aimed at entertaining and educating migrant workers.

The station, located in the MAP office, airs daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. and can be heard within a 15 km radius from the radio station on 102.5 FM.

As will play Burmese music and provide information about MAP projects such as Act Against Abuse (on labor rights), PHAMIT (Prevention of HIV/AIDS Among Migrant In Thailand) and POSH (Promoting Occupation Health and Safety).

MAP is the first Burmese organization with its own radio station for migrant workers in Mae Sot, although there are a few one-hour shows on Thai radio stations.

The station has a non-political policy and does not air commercial advertisements. The news section will focus on local migrant issues and will finish the day with news from the district labor department.

Min Lwin, the station manager, said it’s important for migrant workers to have a radio station because many are unreachable and unaware of education and health information.

“It’s hard for the MAP workers to reach all the migrant workers,” he told The Irrawaddy.

“Some migrant workers in agriculture are quite isolated and know very little about their ability to receive health care and send their children to learning centers. Even if they are sick they are too scared to go to hospital.”

“Everyone can play radio and it requires little electricity. This way we can keep many migrant workers informed about their choices for health and education.”

The show will also have chances for migrant workers to phone in and ask for advice on migrant workers issues. The station had 140 phone calls in three days, mainly requesting songs.

Zaw Gyi, one of the part-time DJs, said many migrant workers support the new station.

“Everyone is really happy there is now a radio station playing Burmese music and discussing migrant issues,” he said. “I worked in factories for seven years, and I know that this will bring great relief to many Burmese workers who don’t understand the Thai shows that often played in the workplace.”

One migrant worker, Bo Bo from Yangon, told The Irrawaddy at a tea shop that workers in his factory were anxious to learn about migrant worker issues.

The station will broadcast mainly in Burmese with one hour of Thai-language programming daily.
Min Lwin said the station hopes to expand to have Karen language and other language programming.

Since 2008, the MAP foundation has operated a similar radio station in Chiang Mai on FM 99.0.

The foundation works with Burmese migrant workers on labor issues, living conditions, health and women’s rights.

BY ALEX ELLGEE