migrant advocacy

Migrants have been living in Thailand for a number of years, integrating with Thai society. Many work in factories or on farms for wages below the minimum wage in circumstances. ADRA hopes to improve Migrants living and working conditions, and make them aware of their rights.

Enhanced Capacity for Migrant Advocacy (ECMA)

As it has grown economically over the past few decades, Thailand has attracted an increased number of migrant workers from surrounding countries; mostly Myanmar, Cambodia and Laos. The migrants see Thailand as a country with high opportunity and a greater chance at a stable income. Thailand’s minimum wage is often much higher than that of their home countries, and so they migrate with hopes of a better life. There are many issues facing the migrants as they seek work in the factories surrounding Mae Sot; ranging from lack of awareness about rights, language barriers, access to information, poor OHS standards and the lacking capacities of local CSOs to effectively engage and promote migrant rights at a National level.

The completion of this project will see improved awareness and adherence to labor law in factories employing migrant workers, strengthened capacities of CSOs to engage in policy dialogue with INGOs, private sector and government duty bearers; and enhanced CSO’s collaboration with government stakeholders and factory owners for improving health & safety conditions for migrant workers.

goals

ADRA aims to strengthen and empower marginalized and vulnerable migrant workers in Mae Sot, Tak Province, Thailand. We will build capacities of local CSOs (Thai and Migrant worker led) to effectively advocate for improvement in human rights and living/working conditions for migrant workers. The CSOs will be able to collaborate with INGOs, private sectors and government duty bearers; regarding labor rights and occupational health and safety conditions for migrant workers. The project will be implemented from January 2016 to December 2018, funded by the European Union and ADRA UK.

approach

This project will target 150,000 beneficiaries in 70 factories in Mae Sot District. ADRA will conduct workshops and trainings on labor rights and legislation for employers in factories and paralegal training for CBOs and NGOs. We will provide technical and financial support to CSOs and assist in monitoring the implementation of labor laws and OHS in the factories. We will support various platforms/networks of CBO/CSO and authorities to share their concern, knowledge and coloration to enhance our advocacy. We will seek opportunities to work with authoritarian and private sectors including factory owners to create an example; to role model optimum working and living conditions for workers. These factories will be promoted in multiple events both at local and national levels to be leading examples.

partnerships

We sometimes forget how powerful prayers can be. In our ministry, we need your prayers on a regular basis. We hold firm on the promise found in 1 John 5:14, “This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us – whatever we ask – we know that we have what we asked of Him”.

We would love for you to be an ADRA Prayer Warrior and support our ministry in this supernatural and Godly way. Many times we face with difficult situations. We would really appreciate your concern and comfort through your prayers. You may pray for us from wherever you are or send us your prayers so that we can share it with our colleagues in our weekly staff meetings!