Gender and Labour in SE Asia by Anna Norden

APP DETAILS:

annanorden8 — 2020-10-12 00:46:45 UTC

INTENDED AUDIENCE:
Female migrant workers working in Thailand

ARGUMENT:
Female migrant workers need access to resources and support/communication methods, especially in the time of COVID-19

ACTION ITS PROMOTING:
Community building, helping women access empowering and tangibly helpful resources, and allowing modes of communication between migrant workers

APP FEATURES:

annanorden8 — 2020-10-12 00:48:42 UTC

Chat room:

Broader groups and sub-groups

Emergency and long term resources:

Housing, medical care, financial support, legal support, unions
Refer women to local organisations

Information pages:

COVID, general issues, pay inequality, childcare

Design Drafts!!

annanorden8 — 2020-10-15 04:35:05 UTC

Design Draft! (Isobel)

2020-10-16 00:05:37 UTC

Article #1:

annanorden8 — 2020-10-16 00:40:51 UTC

Critical times: gendered implications of the economic crisis for migrant workers from Burma/Myanmar in Thailand

Mae Sot in the Tak region: on the border and has many garment making and other factories – local government incentivises these industries
Not many factory dorms can fit factories - a messenger app could let women communicate and find places that allow families
Women lose jobs and housing if they get pregnant – messaging to find accommodation works here
Restrictions on migrants forming unions – platform to communicate informally with other workers
Women are communicating already with local Thai women’s associations – provide info and means of communication with these associations

Pollock, Jackie, and Soe Lin Aung. "Critical Times: Gendered Implications of the Economic Crisis for Migrant Workers from Burma/Myanmar in Thailand." Gender and Development 18, no. 2 (July 2010): 213-227.

Article #2:

annanorden8 — 2020-10-16 00:59:04 UTC

Vision, Visibility, and 'the Art of Acting Thai': Migrants' Navigation of the Thai-Burmese Borderlands

Migration laws are constantly changing and therefore hard to understand – the app could provide up-to-date info for when these laws change
“Shadow workers”; have no relation with employers past an annual sum of <2000 baht – app could help women find places with better salaries/contracts
Helpless in situations of injury or withheld pay – app can provide chatting options with local unions

Bjørneseth, Frida. "Vision, Visibility, and 'the Art of Acting Thai': Migrants' Navigation of the Thai-Burmese Borderlands." Etnofoor 29, no. 1 (2017): 43-62.

Maternity Leave (Isobel)

2020-10-16 01:02:14 UTC

Maternity Care:

Under the Employment and Labour Laws Regulations (2020), pregnant employees are entitled to a maximum of 90 days maternity leave, including holidays. This includes a maximum 45 days paid leave. Women are protected from termination, and if they have a certificate from a physician, are able to request their employer change their work duties if required. Neither paternity leave nor flexible custody rights are recognised under these regulations.

- use for info section of app
- https://iclg.com/practice-areas/employment-and-labour-laws-and-regulations/thailand

Sources (Isobel)

2020-10-16 01:11:38 UTC

https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_219758.pdf
-> workers rights guide

Worker's Rights (Isobel)

2020-10-16 01:15:58 UTC

Migrant workers specific:
Under Thai labour laws, migrant workers have the right to up to 6 days of holiday annually after the first year of work, up to 30 days of sick leave, and the right to receive income during a period of illness.

Migrant workers have the right to be paid at least once a month, and to be paid in cash. Employees have the right to move freely around their workplace - with safety considerations.

Worker's have the right to one day off a week, as well as the right to refuse overtime. Employees must be paid at least minimum wage.

https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_219758.pdf

annanorden8 — 2020-10-16 01:20:39 UTC

Early Childcare (Isobel)

2020-10-16 01:32:54 UTC

https://www.unicef.org/thailand/what-we-do/early-childhood-development

Accessing childcare and childhood development are key issues which female workers and their children face.

Although these early years of education are crucial to a child's development, around 15% of children aged 3-5 are not enrolled in any early childhood education programs.

COVID 19 (Isobel)

2020-10-18 07:40:39 UTC

COVID 19 has deeply impacted the lives of migrant workers in Thailand. The border closures have prevented many migrant workers travelling between Thailand and their home countries, and many have had to choose between their lives in Thailand and those abroad. Roughly 80 000 workers from Myanmar and Cambodia have been forced to return home, and with many businesses affected by the pandemic many migrants have struggled to find work.

For those who have remained active in the workforce, and especially those within the healthcare sector, risk of infection has been a key problem. To mitigate these risks, the Thai Red Cross has provided 800 000 masks for use by migrant workers. Additionally, testing is available for migrant workers, and although the testing itself is costly - treatment is relatively accessible.

https://www.who.int/thailand/emergencies/novel-coronavirus-2019/getting-to-thailand-during-covid-19-outbreak
https://reliefweb.int/report/thailand/eight-hundred-thousand-masks-help-protect-migrant-workers-covid-19
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/1957543/migrants-struggle-to-return-despite-sealed-borders

ARTICLE #3:

annanorden8 — 2020-10-19 23:24:43 UTC

An Exploration of the Gender-Migration-Development Nexus: The Impact of Labor Migration on Women’s Empowerment

Allowing women to work decreases health issues and levels of poverty - by helping women access support to continue working, they can continue to work and receive pay
Women as breadwinners increases their social status and helps lead to greater gender equality in time
Membership in migrant networks is gender-biased towards men – men’s associations are based around culture and local ties, whereas women’s associations are more multi-cultural and multi-linguistic
Social networks are proven to facilitate dialogue and knowledge about information, ideas and capital resources - through the chat feature, women can participate in these networks and strengthen local connections to other migrant women

Bachan, Anna. "An Exploration of the Gender-Migration-Development Nexus: The Impact of Labor Migration on Women’s Empowerment." Consilience, no. 20 (2018): 1-22.

Youtube - Migrant Workers Mae Sot Protest

annanorden8 — 2020-10-19 23:31:26 UTC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xXGE9iVO59U

Workers at the factories demand minimum wage, better conditions and sick leave
A chat room feature can be an informal way for workers to organise these movements
As the Thai government makes it so difficult for migrant workers to form unions, these informal methods of unionisation and advocacy can be beneficial

Gender and Labour (Isobel)

2020-10-20 03:49:54 UTC

Female workers in Thailand face many issues in the workplace, concerning both how much work they are able to find and what sort of work they are considered for. Only 58.9% of women living in Thailand work, and this number has been decreasing over recent decades. This trend is accentuated within specific fields - such as STEM and management - where women face even higher rates of unemployment. Only 22% of civil service management roles are held by women, for instance.

Women are also far more likely to work in the textiles, childcare, and nursing sectors; limiting the roles that are deemed socially acceptable for women to inhabit. Nevertheless, women are seeing more opportunities arise, and are now more than ever able to seek employment opportunities outside socially acceptable roles.

Women's Health Clinic (Isobel)

2020-10-20 06:13:23 UTC

Bangkok Hospital - Women's Health Center

The Women's Health Center is a central hub for women's health and medical care in Thailand's capital. The center provides comprehensive care in family planning, midwifery, and other gynocological needs, and provides care for women of all ages and backgrounds.
Outpatient centers can be found in most major cities and in regional locations, with 60 centers around Thailand.

Opening hours:
8.00 am - 5.00pm daily
Phone:
2310 3005
Email:
info@bangkokhospital.com

Bumrungrad Hospital Women's Center:

The Bumrungrad Hospital Women's Center specializes in diagnostic and preventative medicine for women from any background or age. Cervical and breast cancer screenings are available.

Opening hours:
Monday through Friday
7:00 am to 8:00 pm
Saturday
7:00 am to 7:30 pm
Sunday
8:00 am to 8:00 pm

Phone:
066 8888

sophieellen024 — 2020-10-20 06:25:48 UTC

Here are the app screens for the opening that display the features of the app:

Family Health Care

2020-10-20 06:42:23 UTC

Thailand has several types of hospitals, which provide the basis for family health care country wide. Regional, General, and Community Hospitals provide this range of care.

Below are the contact numbers for some of Thailand's major hospitals, all of which have regional centers.

Bangkok Hospital:
310 3000

Bumrungrand International Hospital:
066 8888

Thai International Hospital:
77 332 654

Migrant Worker Mae Sot Photo Collection

annanorden8 — 2020-10-20 23:39:54 UTC

This is a series of photos from Thailand's Mae Sot border region where many Burmese migrant workers come to work in factories. It shows spaces where the local Burmese migrants have incorporated their cultures and organised.

https://facesofmaesot.wordpress.com/gallery/mae-sot/

Youtube - Thailand pursues registration of Burmese migrant workers

annanorden8 — 2020-10-20 23:46:34 UTC

This video discusses Thailand's need for migrant workers, and introduces the situation of undocumented workers and the unfair conditions they face. It also interviews several migrant workers, who share their stories of workplace mistreatment and exploitation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XpucmHs7laU

Some Reflective Ideas:

annanorden8 — 2020-10-20 23:51:57 UTC

1) Promoting interaction between women and non-governmental bodies, as the relationship between migrant workers and local authorities is one of distrust. The app should focus on facilitating relationships between female migrant workers and institutions who will advocate for them.
2) Focusing on empowerment of women, rather than trying to change their situations. Allowing them to seek out the specific care/assistance they require rather than subjecting them to new laws or structures of power.
3) Creating stronger communication amongst women and between women and non-governmental organisations. This allows the women to form their own spaces of belonging and community; rather than being put into communities created by outside bodies.

Multimedia Source #1 - High rise, low pay: Experiences of migrant women in the Thai construction sector

sophieellen024 — 2020-10-21 01:19:24 UTC

This video analyses the experiences specific to female migrant workers in Thailand that lead to discrimination in the workplace, inequality and mistreatment.
It also addresses how the working environments of these women do not meet Thai minimum standards, and the struggles that these women experience regarding their identities in this social climate.
The video argues that the most important issues faced by migrant women workers in Thailand are:
- Unfair pay
- No maternity leave
- Unfair dismissal
- Gender based discrimination

This source also raised an interesting point concerning the working output of migrant women workers. Although they are often hired as part of a 'package deal' with their husbands, employers who hire these women have found that their quality of work is often superior to that of the men.

Article #1:

sophieellen024 — 2020-10-22 05:19:10 UTC

Research Article - Working through exceptional space: The case of women migrant workers in Mae Sot, Thailand

The text looks into the situation for women migrant workers at the borderland of Mae Sot and in the centreland of Bangkok.
Opportunities in the borderland for women to coordinate healthcare, childcare and children's education.
However, women are also distanced from social and safety support networks in their home regions.
In depth analysis regarding the 'ungovernable' nature of these borderlands and how this shapes the experience of women living there.

Kyoko Kusakabe, Ruth Pearson. "Working through exceptional space: The case of women migrant workers in Mae Sot, Thailand". International Sociology, vol.31, no.3 (2016)

Multimedia Source (Isobel)

2020-10-22 05:21:23 UTC

'Migrant Workers in Thailand' - YouTube

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS1ZFc7pwiw

This video discuss some of the broader ideas surrounding the topic of migrant workers in Thailand. This mostly introduces the types of work that migrant workers participate in and their relationship with domestic workers. This video mostly works as a solid introduction to the topic.

Multimedia Source (Isobel)

2020-10-22 05:25:46 UTC

'Migrant workers struggle to return despite sealed borders' - Bangkok Post
https://www.bangkokpost.com/thailand/special-reports/1957543/migrants-struggle-to-return-despite-sealed-borders

This news article, and the accompanying photos, detailed some of the issues that migrant workers have been facing in light of COVID-19. In particular, this article focused on the geographical problems - such as workers' inability to migrate between borders - that have emerged. This was a super helpful source in understanding how the virus has affected life in Thailand, especially as a lot of the news I came across during research wasn't particularly useful.

Multimedia Source (Isobel)

2020-10-22 05:35:02 UTC

'A guide for migrant workers in Thailand'
https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/---asia/---ro-bangkok/documents/publication/wcms_219758.pdf

This information packet has been made for migrant workers in Thailand by the 'International Labour Organization'. This is a super useful source as it goes into detail about the different rights that migrant workers have, as well as the different rights documented and undocumented individuals have.

Article #2

sophieellen024 — 2020-10-22 05:43:35 UTC

Journal Article - Cross-border childcare strategies of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand

This article specifically hones in on the childcare issues for our app's target audience.
There are to main methods of childcare applicable to Burmese migrants working in Thailand, their children are either cared for in their home country, or in Thailand.
Most articles on this subject focus on the 'distance mothering' approach undertaken by women whose children are cared for in their country of origin. However, I have specifically chosen to analyse this article because it analyses the situation of women trying to find childcare resources in Thailand.
The children of migrant workers are not entitled to the same access to childcare as Thai children, which significantly impacts their ability to find effective care facilities.
The unstable nature of migrant employment brings additional challenges to the childcare equation because stable finance and living arrangements are near impossible to establish.
This issue also connects back into the working conditions of migrant women, as many of them face the risk of losing their jobs if they are pregnant. Effective childcare services are necessary to ensure that women can continue to work after having children.

Kyoko Kusakabe, Ruth Pearson. "Cross-border childcare strategies of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand". A Journal of Feminist Geography, vol.20, no.8 (2013): 960-978.

Article #1 (Isobel)

2020-10-22 05:57:00 UTC

Abella, Manolo 'Labor Migration Policy Dilemmas in the Wake of COVID 19'

- this article provides an academic perspective to the impact of COVID to migrant workers worldwide

- although its doesn't specifically focus on migrant workers in Thailand, this article provides insight into some of the issues that might face Thai workers

- 'With lockdown measures, many of those who found themselves without a way to sustain themselves are low‐wage foreign workers on short‐term work permits, undocumented foreign workers, asylum‐seekers and refugees.'

- this article emphasizes how migrant workers are often trapped, unable to see their families in their home countries and also unable to work

Article #2 (Isobel)

2020-10-22 06:06:01 UTC

Sohn et al., 'understanding and responding to the heterogeneity of the COVID 19 epidemics across SE Asia.'

- this article discuss the different patterns which emerged in SE Asia in the wake of the COVID pandemic

- in particular, this paper focused on how those in vulnerable social and economic situations (such as migrant workers) should be helped

- 'For COVID‐19, this also means appreciating that resources to support social distancing requirements should be distributed equitably to those who need them most – such as those living in extreme poverty and migrant workers, refugees, and prisoners. In our primarily low‐ and middle‐income country contexts, “working from home” is a luxury that only a minority of people can afford.'

Article #3

sophieellen024 — 2020-10-22 06:08:19 UTC

Journal Article - The Access to Antenatal and Postpartum Care Services of Migrant Workers in the Greater Mekong Subregion: The Role of Acculturative Stress and Social Support

This article investigates the issues surrounding childbirth for migrant workers, specifically from Myanmar and Cambodia, in Thailand.
The most significant barrier preventing migrant women in Thailand from accessing care during pregnancy is the language barrier.
However, access to social support networks, such as supportive friends and family, can help women to overcome this barrier and increase the likelihood of them seeking medical care during and after pregnancy.
Access to health care is just as vital for the children of these migrant women. The same factors influence their ability to receive medical attention, however they are still more likely to receive medical care than their mothers.

Holumyong, Charamporn; Ford, Kathleen; Sajjanand, Siriporn; Chamratrithirong, Aphichat. Journal of Pregnancy; New York Vol. 2018, (2018). DOI:10.1155/2018/9241923

Article #3 (Isobel)

2020-10-22 06:09:50 UTC

'New Ministerial Regulation offers better protection for domestic workers' rights'

https://www.ilo.org/wcmsp5/groups/public/@ed_protect/@protrav/@travail/documents/publication/wcms_208703.pdf

- this paper is an overview of the different rights which Thai workers possess

- while its was made with domestic workers in mind, this still provides a useful comparison for migrant workers

- additionally, many of the basic rights between domestic workers and documented migrant workers are very similar, which makes this article quite informative for understanding these similarities. However, these rights do not carry over for illegal or undocumented workers

Multimedia Source #2 - Migrants Women Working in Thailand - MAP Foundation

sophieellen024 — 2020-10-22 09:17:00 UTC

Migrant Women Working in Thailand hope for:

a good salary
exciting experiences
friendship
new opportunities

However, very few women are able to fulfill these wishes due the way they are treated by employers and Thai citizens.

These women take on roles in:

construction
domestic settings
fishing industry
agriculture
factories
market places
shops

This video introduces broad issues affecting migrant women workers in Thailand, and provides useful context. It then goes on to personalise the issue through individual case studies.

The 'Women Exchange' meeting has a very similar purpose to our app, only with less ability to reach a broad audience.
At this meeting women learn about "health, labour laws, domestic violence, gender issues and other rights."
The women in the video discuss how attending these exchanges can be very difficult and sometimes employers dismiss women who attend. Our app could help to transition people into attending these meetings, and allow a more discreet method of receiving information for women who are unable to join the meeting.
URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7hcMCzB1bOI

Multimedia Source #3 - Migrant workers in Thailand - International Labour Organization

sophieellen024 — 2020-10-22 09:45:06 UTC

This video is essentially a promotion for the Saphan Siang campaign which aims to raise awareness for migrant workers in Thailand and end some of the misconceptions relating to them. Although this is not specific to women, I thought that it was interesting to see a Thai entity standing in support of migrant workers.

The ambassador for the foundation speaks throughout the video and aims to educate the audience about the reality of migrant workers. Central to this dialogue are facts such as the contribution of migrant work to the Thai GDP, that the migrant workers are not taking Thai jobs because there is actually a shortage of Thai workers to fill the roles that the migrant workers will take on, and how little these workers rely on the Thai health system.

This video ultimately aims to improve Thai attitudes toward migrant workers.

URL:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS1ZFc7pwiw