On 23 December 2022, Mekong Migration Network (MMN) and the Foundation for Education Development (FED) jointly organised an event to celebrate the 18th International Migrants Day in Phang Nga, Thailand. Featuring a screening of a video produced by MMN, the occasion gathered over 20 migrant workers, leaders of migrant-run groups, and members of migrant supporting organisations to share their experiences of organising in Thailand and exchange ideas.

Mr. Min Oo, FED Migrant Development Coordinator, delivered the welcome remarks, highlighting the rationale behind the event and how International Migrants Day developed into the global occasion it is today. This was followed by the screening of an MMN-produced video, which features migrant-run groups across a number of locations in Thailand, including Samut Sakhon, Songkhla, Phang Nga and Ranong. Through a series of interviews with migrant workers and migrant community leaders, it illustrates the strategies deployed by different migrant collectives to organise as well as the challenges they face in the process.

The video helped initiate a lively discussion among participants about the benefits of collective action, the obstacles to forming migrant groups, the challenges that are present when coordinating between migrant groups, and the importance of ongoing advocacy and education around the idea of labour organising.

MMN thanks the participants for their valuable insights during the event and looks forward to continuing providing a platform for migrant workers coming from wide-ranging work sectors and across different locales, to share their unique experiences and build on the rich repertoire of community knowledge.