By Shwe Ba (Pseudonym), Originally Published in Burma Digest, 2007
Introduction
The proverb says, “Give a man a fish, and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, and you feed him for a lifetime.” But for Myanmar refugees today, the issue goes beyond donations or skills. They know how to survive and work. What they urgently need are legal documents that allow them to live and work lawfully in their host countries.
When Ukrainian refugees fled war, many countries opened their borders and offered protection and dignity. But Myanmar’s displaced people—facing military coups, civil war, economic collapse, and natural disasters—are largely forgotten. Funding shortfalls and geopolitical inertia have tied the hands of the UNHCR. Yet, the people of Myanmar urgently need a fresh, practical solution.
This proposal—originally published in 2007—calls for an innovative pilot project to provide legal status, job opportunities, and dignity to Myanmar refugees and migrants. It is even more relevant today.
Summary of the Proposal
We propose that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), in collaboration with host countries and international agencies, launch a Myanmar Refugee and Migrant Pilot Project. Key elements include:
- Issuance of Certificates of Identity (CIs): Legal identification documents issued by UNHCR in lieu of national passports, enabling travel and legal employment.
- Vocational and Language Training: Training centers set up to develop marketable skills aligned with global labor demands.
- UNHCR-Managed Employment Agency: A dedicated body to manage recruitment, job placement, and compliance.
- Global Cooperation: Strategic partnerships with governments, international organizations, and businesses to create pathways for legal migration.
- Safeguards: Strict vetting, tracking, and repatriation mechanisms for non-compliance or criminal activity.
Why the Current System Fails
- Refugees spend years waiting in limbo, often without access to education, jobs, or health care.
- Host countries fear being overwhelmed and resist integration.
- UNHCR’s slow processing and limited resettlement options frustrate all parties.
- The outdated distinction between “political” and “economic” refugees ignores today’s interconnected causes of displacement.
The result is prolonged suffering, frustration, and wasted human potential.
Myanmar’s Humanitarian Crisis: A Unique Case
- Neighboring countries are not parties to the 1951 Refugee Convention.
- Armed conflict, religious persecution, and systematic discrimination affect nearly every ethnic and religious community.
- Political reform remains elusive, making safe return impossible.
- Millions are internally displaced or living undocumented in regional countries.
Core Components of the Pilot Project
- Certificates of Identity (CIs)
- Issued by UNHCR to Burmese refugees and undocumented migrants.
- Function as legal IDs for employment and international travel.
- Training Programs
- Vocational, language, and cultural orientation tailored to host country needs.
- Pre-departure briefings on local customs, laws, and climate.
- Employment Agency under UNHCR
- Manages job placements and monitors compliance.
- Maintains a blacklist of those involved in criminal activity.
- Supports reintegration or further job placement for successful workers.
- International Cooperation
- Involve the UN, ILO, WTO, WHO, UNDP, World Bank, and NGOs.
- Bypass exploitative labor brokers by working directly with multinational employers.
- Funding and Sustainability
- Seed funding from UN and donor countries.
- Long-term financing via employer levies, modest salary deductions, and voluntary payback from successful earners.
- Social Protection
- Partner with insurance firms to provide health, education, and retirement coverage.
- Contributions deducted monthly and supported by employer or government rebates.
- Security and Rule of Law
- Background checks in collaboration with Interpol and national police.
- CI holders must commit to non-violence and lawful conduct.
- Host Country Incentives
- Access to pre-trained, vetted, and reliable workers.
- Reduced enforcement and detention burdens.
- Opportunity to fill labor shortages without permanent immigration commitments.
- Third Country Advantages
- Temporary and merit-based migration reduces long-term burdens.
- Countries may grant residency or citizenship based on performance, not obligation.
- Flexible intake of labor as needed.
Addressing Concerns
- Will it encourage mass migration? The project uses careful vetting, contracts, and quotas.
- Is it legalizing illegals? No. It transforms the undocumented into legal, tax-paying contributors.
- What if it fails? Being a pilot, it can be adjusted or discontinued. If successful, it can be expanded.
Conclusion: A Compassionate and Pragmatic Solution
Myanmar’s displaced people don’t want charity. They want a chance to rebuild their lives and help their families. Legal documents and the right to work will empower them to contribute—not just to host countries, but to Myanmar’s eventual recovery.
Let the military regime remain isolated. Let the people move forward. If implemented, this proposal could become a model for refugee solutions worldwide.
UNHCR and the global community: please offer dignity, not detention. Offer opportunity, not handouts. Empower, don’t just shelter.
READ ALSO:
1/ Myanmar Refugee/Migrant pilot Project Proposal I
2/ Myanmar Refugee/Migrant pilot Project Proposal II
3/ My Youtube videos in Myanmar:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I6ohnO_8q5Q&pp=2AaCFA%3D%3D
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tDxf2gHdkKY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LpzyzD84Gm4
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdRoGWxXnNY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EdRoGWxXnNY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-o8asdM8CWo&pp=2AYD0gcJCcEJAYcqIYzv
