The Negotiation Strategies for the Rights of Migrant Workers in Chiang Mai
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Abstract
This article focused on negotiation strategies for the rights of Tai Yai migrant workers (MW) in Chiang Mai, Thailand. The MV are invisible by Thai law, face with discrimination, and are exploited by Thai employers and officials. According to participatory observation, interview of migrant workers and NGO activists, and data collection from legal documents and reports of government and non-government organization, the MW used various strategies to negotiate for their rights. The creation of new identities, as hard working, tolerant, humble and honest people enables them to be accepted in term of social and economic citizenship. Not just re-configured the old social capital, such as relatives, friends and acquaintance, but they also invented the new one, such as being members of MW federation, the Thai Trade Union and legal organizations at the local, national and international levels. Moreover, some MW could not negotiate through court procedure and could not reveal their identity as other group of workers did, but they preferred to engage in everyday practice to make a living in Thailand.
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References
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