Decision on later life migration of Myanmar migrant workers in Ranong province, Thailand

Abstract

Over the past five decades, international migration has grown worldwide (IOM, 2022). At the same time, global human life expectancy has been increasing on average because of better health care and improved medical care. Becoming older while being a migrant creates more challenges and vulnerabilities in everyday life. This study examines factors impacting their later life migration or settlement through Myanmar migrant workers in Ranong Province, Thailand. The empirical evidence is gathered from the survey using structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews. The result of the binary logistic regression study indicated that living conditions, receiving working skills in Thailand, political and economic unrest in the origin country, and personal aspiration for migration greatly influence the decision of the settlement in later life of Myanmar migrant workers in Ranong, Thailand. Inaccessibility of document registration for older migrant workers led them to face many difficulties and vulnerabilities in many aspects of their life, including their children education. This effect not only impacts the older-age migrant workers but also the future of the younger generation. Myanmar's current political unrest makes older-aged Myanmar workers are less likely to return to Myanmar. Taking the fact that the border control between Thailand and Myanmar is challenging, skills development could be prioritized by both governments to promote the better-off productivity and well-being of people of both countries.