Constant military tension causes labor shortage in Southern Mon State

September 26, 2024

HURFOM: Farmers in Ye and Thanbyuzayat Townships, Southern Mon State have been making their livelihood mostly by paddy (rice) farming, rubber and fruit plantations and they mainly rely on migrant workers from the upper Burma.

However, the armed clashes and military tension have persisted in the Southern Mon State since early 2024, and migrant workers are reluctant to work in the Mon State creating a serious labor shortage in local areas.

“’We have faced scarcity of labor before. But we can’t find even a single worker now, because armed clashes take place nearly every day. I don’t have any workers in my plantation now. The owners have to decide if they do plantation work themselves or abandon plantation,” said a rubber and fruit plantation owner from Southern Ye Township.

At the moment, the joint resistance forces have gained control on the Thanbyuzayat-Ye Highway Road but the military junta has been reinforcing their troops and launching military operations to regain the control of the road, resulting in nearly daily armed clashes in the area.

Migrant workers feel insecure to work in the area and have decided not to come to the Southern Mon State.

“Before, the workers received 40% and the owners gained 60% of the profit. Now, the owners have made “half and half” offers but they are still unable to find workers,” said a rubber plantation owner in Thanbyuzayat Township.

Now, the rainy season is about to end and rubber plantation owners have needed to clean bushes in their plantation but they cannot go to their plantations and have to abandon them due to frequent armed clashes and constant military tension.

Local plantation owners told HURFOM that most owners had decided to stop next season’s production efforts due to scarcity of labor and security concerns.

Written by Modinator · Filed Under News