Migration Trends in Migrant Workers and Management for an ASEAN Community Preparation A Case Study of Tai Yai Migrant Workers in Amphoe Muang, Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

          The objectives of this research were to study: 1) The current situation of Tai Yai workers in Chiang Mai province and its trends. 2) The impacts of Tai Yai workers on themselves, their families and communities and to Chiang Mai in aspects of economic, society and culture, and the security of the province. 3) Participation management direction of Tai Yai workers in order to prepare for being an ASEAN community membership countries. Methodology of this study was based on qualitative research in the aspect of inside dimension to outside one.Data obtained by using focus group discussion, in debt interview and observation. The number of this study samples was 65 persons comprised of community leaders, the entrepreneurs who hired Tai Yai workers, the entrepreneurs in the local communities and Tai Yai workers in the area of Muang Chaing Mai. Content analysis and the list of priorities were utilized in data analysis.

      The study found that the first group of Tai Yai and Yunan people who migrated and settled down in the Chiang Mai Lanna Kingdom during the 16-19 century A.D. were the pack-ox traders The second group came after the Myanmar government rejected Pang long Agreement during the last period of the Second World War II which was the period that Myanmar was independent from British government. The current situation of immigrant labors is that there is an increasingly number of Tai Yai labors working in Chaing Mai. They came across along the borders of Thailand and Shan State of Myanmar. Most of them were illegal immigrates who temporary stay and work in Muang and Pai districts of Mae Hong Son. Later on they legally applied for working. The pushing factors for worker immigration into Thailand to settle down and work were the military government ruling Myanmar which cause the fighting between military forces and Shan State Army. For motivated factors to draw them to work in Chiang Mai were the high wage and the similarity of society and culture. For the trends and future situation of Tai Yai immigrant workers related to Shan State or Myanmar will be the economic expansion and the investment increase. There will be increasingly number of workers returning to their home land as the same time will adjust themselves from being labor workers to service ones and there will be the increasing in   subcontract works. It is also when ASEAN community is happened, it will allow Tai Yai workers to go in and out Thailand legally.

      For the positive impacts of Tai Yai workers on themselves 1) It found out that there was an accumulative income earned and sent back to their families in Shan State and their working skills were improved. 2) to the family to establish new families in Chiang Mai 3) the impacts on community does not disturb the community and affects the economic growth in the community.
4) to the economy of Chiang Mai, Employment Build a career and promote economic growth. 5) socio-culture the activities of the directors of the Tai Yai culture and traditions have contributed to Chiang Mai's tourism. And 6) on security. Workers are allowed to work legally, reduce labor shortages, construction groups and service jobs. The negative impact 1) on themselves. There are restrictions on out-of-area travel and the cost of obtaining a work permit. 2) to the family they had to leave their homeland to become workers in Chiang Mai, they had lesser time to spend with families and relatives. 3) The impacts on community was a risk of criminal in community and an occupation competition within community 4) to the economy of Chiang Mai. Labor has more wage bargaining, risk of labor shortage. 5) Socio - culture the urban culture in Chiang Mai has caused some migrant workers to work in the occupation that is against the Tai culture. And 6) on security. Cultural way of life which made some group of them can get jobs that could be an increasingly significant conflict with their culture.

            For the important directions of Tai Yai immigrant worker participation management in order to prepare for being an ASEAN community membership are 1) to provide an opportunity for Tai Yai workers to be able to cooperate with government officer in legally worker registration facilitation 2) to conduct knowledge and understanding programs of training for employers and Thai Yai workers in order to establish legally performing between them and 3) to advise and consult on health and hygiene in residential from government officers to prevent diseases spread.