YCOWA English Version: 2009

Saturday, August 8, 2009

Burmese migrant workers mark May Day in Thailand

420 Workers Fired and Arrested for Demanding Legal Rights

120 Burmese Migrant Workers Go Unpaid and Employer Runs Away

Yaung Chi Oo Workers Association, 1-9-08, Thai-Burma Border Trip

Mae Sot Raid Nets about 500 Migrant Workers

Irrawaddy: Hitmen target Burmese rights champion - Kyaw Zwa Moe

The Children of the Mae Sot Dump

Illegal Migrant Workers Arrested; Others Hide in Jungle

Constructive Engagement with Burma Sees Red Light

Donate through Burmese Grassroots at the Borders Area Print
Written by Administrator

MAE SOT, Thailand, Jul 22 (IPS) - The cool, air-conditioned confines of a labour court in this northern Thai town have become the venue for a small but big struggle - the country�s first-ever labour dispute pressed by Burmese migrant workers.

Burmese migrant workers mark May Day in Thailand

Burmese Rock Fans Arrested in Bangkok

Burmese Workers Arrested in Thailand

Burmese migrants queue up for free rice in Mae Sot

2,500 Myanmar migrants in Thailand killed by tsunami: NGOs

Thailand: Mae Sot Raid Nets about 500 Migrant Workers

Workers’ leaders hide from repression

Burmese refugees fleeing poverty and war endure brutal treatment in neighboring nation

Trade Unions Target Total

ASIA Thai-based Workers’ Group Encouraged By Bishop Tji Human Rights Award

BANGKOK, Jan 17 (IPS) - By announcing a new programme to expand its work in military-ruled Burma, a U.N. food agency has shed more light on the dire economic realities faced by that country’s impoverished people.

Myanmar workers in Thailand are the forgotten tsunami victims

Filipino Workers’ Center Receives Bishop Tji Award

HEALTH-THAILAND: Motherhood a Risk for Burmese Migrants

Sunday, May 3, 2009

Facts about YCOWA

YCOWA was founded in July 1999 by Burmese student activists and migrant workers, with the goal of improving working and living conditions for the Burmese migrant laborers in the Mae Sot area of Thailand. Since then, it has mainly focused on in the field of protecting worker rights, providing rights education, supporting for health care and facilitating social activities.

YCOWA concentrates on activities that encourage workers to collaborate with each other to improve their living situations and working conditions. Currently YCOWA has 700 members from 10 different factories, who actively participate in meetings, trainings, and other activities. YCOWA has also got involved in the facilitation of the network of the Burmese workers’ groups in Mae Sot, Bangkok and the southern provinces of Thailand.

In addition, YCOWA works with the Lawyer Council of Thailand, MAP Foundation, and other Thai and International NGOs to advocate for increased protection and rights for migrants from Burma. YCOWA is an active member of the Action Network for Migrants (ANM), a coalition of 15 NGOs that focus on labor, health, and women’s rights. Thai NGO Network members include MAP Foundation, Thai Action Committee for Democracy in Burma (TACDB), Rak Thai CARE, Friends for Women Foundation, and EMPOWER. The Lawyer Council of Thailand and sub committee on Stateless, migrants and nationality of the National Human Rights Commission are affiliates. YCOWA is also a member of the Asian Transnational Corporation (ATNC) Monitoring Network, which comprises 13 members in eight Asian countries.
Aims and Objectives of YCOWA are as follows:
· To strengthen social relationship and solidarity among Burmese migrant workers
· To encourage Burmese migrant workers for the practice of self-organized and collective actions for protection of their rights
· To provide Burmese migrant workers in Thailand with legal advice and counseling, rights education and vocational trainings, health care and social services
· To inform the international community the updated situation of Burmese migrant workers in Thailand
· To facilitate non-violence participation of migrant workers in the movement for democratic change in Burma

YCOWA’ Executive members are as follows:
1. Ko Moe Swe ( Secretary General)
2. Ko Myo Zaw
3. Ko Nay Naing
4. Ko Htwe Naing
5. Ko Zin Zin
6. Ko Min Maung
7. Ma Naing
8. Ma Kyu Kyu
9. Ma Aye

The YCOWA main office is currently located in Mae Sot, Thailand, the YCOWA’ branch office in Bangkok is recently set up and running with 2 staff.

There are 9 full-time staff members at the office and 20 volunteers in the field works.