Title: Unpacking the factors shaping long-term migration and livelihoods of karen migrant workers in Pathum Thani, Thailand
Author: Mr.Saw Wai Lu Aung
Year: 2024
Keywords: Karen Migrant Workers, Long-Term Migrants, Talad Thai Market,, Livelihoods Strategies
Theme: Migration
Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon
The full thesis available here.
Abstract: This study explores the experiences of long-term Karen migrant workers in Pathum Thani province, Thailand. It includes two primary research questions. The first question examines the factors contributing to their long-term settlement in Thailand, while the second question investigates their livelihood strategies for sustaining their livelihoods over time. The study is conducted in the largest agricultural wholesale product market, known as Talad Thai Market, and its surrounding areas in Pathum Thani province. It employs a mixed-methods approach, combining a survey with case study interviews. The survey includes 100 long-term Karen migrant workers who have worked in the market for at least a year. Additionally, it features in-depth interviews with four case studies: two recent migrants who arrived in Thailand after the 2021 Myanmar military coup and two long-term migrants who have worked in the market for over a decade. The findings reveal that long-term settlement among Karen migrant workers is influenced by a complex interaction of structural, economic, social, and emotional factors. Key elements affecting their long-term stay include the presence of social networks, job availability, job satisfaction and stability, workplace safety, sustainable remittance practices, legal documentation, and increasing family responsibilities. Data from case studies highlights how migrants employ various techniques to adapt and survive. These include informal skill development, language learning through experience, strategic job changes, savings and remittance management, community engagement, and forming emotional connections to their surroundings. Long-term Karen migrants show resilience in the face of disruptions, such as the COVID-19 pandemic and political instability in Myanmar. This research contributes to migration and livelihood studies by highlighting how long-term ethnic migrant workers actively navigate structural constraints and build sustainable lives in a host country