Aye’s journey to Thailand began in her childhood when her parents left Myanmar seeking work. Aye has been living in Thailand for 27 years and now she works on a rubber plantation, earning around 10,000 Thai Baht monthly, with her income varying with the seasons. On a good day, she earns 1,500 Thai Baht, but the monsoon season brings long periods without work, causing significant financial strain. The 2021 coup in Myanmar worsened the situation, making it nearly impossible to return home due to conflict and border closures. Additionally, the growing number of migrants from Myanmar in Phang-Nga has led to increased negative perceptions and tension in local communities.

“I see more people from Myanmar coming to Thailand for work. At the same time, I observed that Thai community started to have more negative perception on Myanmar workers as the number of Myanmar nationals increased.” – Aye, 40 years old migrant women

Aye holds Certificate of Identity (IC). With her unstable income, she faces the additional financial burden of paying taxes to the Myanmar embassy. This has heightened her concerns to obtain documentation in Thailand. She explains that proper documentation would allow her to move freely and feel safer, but the cost of obtaining it remains a major obstacle.

“During the rainy season, I do not have much income as there is no work in the rubber plantation. So, I am worried about not being able to pay the tax… The main challenge is the money to get documented. It is hard for someone with low income to get documented in Thailand.” – Aye, 40 years old migrant women

In addition to these struggles, Aye worries about her siblings who remain in Myanmar and face the threat of military conscription. Despite these challenges, she finds comfort in her weekly phone calls with her mother, facilitated by Myanmar phone signals in her area. These calls remind her of her purpose and strengthen her resolve to continue supporting her family.