Saturday, March 10, 2012

Thailand steps up migrant passport effort


9 March 2012
Burmese migrant workers may soon be able to apply for temporary 
passports in northern Thailand’s Chiang Mai city as the Kingdom seeks 
to speed up the process of legalising the millions of foreigners that 
provide crucial support for the economy.

Dawei Port in Doubt with Bangkok Hub Plan


9 March 2012
Shaky plans for a US $50 billion oil port and industrial complex on Burma’s 
southeast coast at Dawei (Tavoy) are looking even more uncertain after 
Thailand disclosed that it is re-appraising its strategic trade transport 
infrastructure to look at domestic ports.

Activists Slam Labor Laws for Curbs on Strikes


9 March 2012
Activists in Burma have criticized labor laws passed last year 
by the country’s nominally democratic Parliament that block the right 
of worker unions to conduct independent industrial strikes.
Unions can only walk out after winning approval from the Labor 
Federation under the new legislation. The body is yet to be formed 
as is seen by many as the most controversial aspect of the new Labor 
Organization Law passed as part of recent reforms in the 
military-dominated nation.

Sixty Vietnamese businessmen to visit Burma


9 March 2012
Chiang Mai (Mizzima) – More than 60 Vietnamese company representatives 
will arrive in Burma on Sunday, says the Union of Myanmar Federation of 
Chambers of Commerce and Industry (UMFCCI).

Chinese Trade Expo to Focus on Burma


9 March 2012
Burma will be the focus of the China-Asean Trade Expo in Nanning this 
coming September, the vice-governor of the hosting region Guangxi said 
on Wednesday. Speaking to reporters in Beijing, Vice-Governor Lan Tianli 
said, “The focus will be on technical cooperation, the focus will be on Burma.

Thailand’s human trafficking ranking in jeopardy


9 March 2012
(Mizzima) – A panel discussion on Thailand’s status in human trafficking 
will take place at the Foreign Correspondents Club in Bangkok at 8 p.m. 
on Tuesday. Admission is 300 baht for non-members.