Even though the Burmese Kyat is strong against both the US Dollar and Thai Baht, families of migrant workers are reluctant to support their home currency.

The soaring Burmese currency, at its strongest in years, affects the Mon community globally.  As of December 4, it was valued at 29 kyat to one Thai Baht and 980 Kyat to one US dollar, according to Banya Sorn in Bangkok. Banya Sorn exchanges money between Baht and Kyat – most of his clients are migrant workers in central Thailand – but business has been lagging.

"Our business is not booming like in the past.  Our work is very slow and I still cannot pay rent and interest for this (money exchange) business,” remarked Nai Shwe, another businessman based in Maharchai.

Ms. Mi Wei, from Ye Township, works in Bangkok as a housemaid. “We cannot send money home,” she reports.  “Our parents have tried to sell their land (to get money), but nobody is able to buy it, even if we lower the price about 20%.” 

Meanwhile, in Burma, family members of migrant workers are in dire need of remittances due to the low selling price of betel nut and rubber in Mon State.

Nai Soe, a small business owner from Ye, said, “I have a plot of land valued at 14 million kyat that I bought two years ago. I lowered the price down to 12 million and it is still on sale. With the low price of garden products and a longer dry season, it is difficult to survive.  Even while we earn less from rubber and betel nut, the wage for labour is not cheap."