Locals report that workers trying to enter China for work through the border town of Muse in northern Shan State are currently stranded at the border gate.
People from various regions including Yangon, Mandalay, Sagaing, Magway, Ayeyarwady, Arakan, Kachin, and southern Shan State who intend to work in China are stuck in Muse due to strict border crossing restrictions and fraudulent practices by brokers.
A local from Muse said: “People from lower Myanmar come here looking for work. When they arrive in Muse, they can’t cross immediately. And then they end up with nowhere to stay and nothing to eat – that’s when the trouble starts. There are lots of people like that. There are huge crowds at the gate. Some days there are thousands of people.”
He continued to explain that workers are stranded in various locations including the Kaung Hmu Tone Ward (locally known as Si Pin Kone area), Thein Than Chi truck terminal, and warehouses in several other wards.
According to some Muse residents, approximately 400 people are confined in an enclosed warehouse in the Si Pin Kone area, while about 500 people are stranded at the Thein Than Chi truck terminal.
A young Arakanese woman in Muse said: “Some of my friends tried to enter through illegal routes. When they got there, they were arrested and we lost contact. I’m too scared to try that. I’m just waiting here. I’ve been in Muse for over 4 months now. I’m running out of money. The gates are open but there are too many checks, and I heard they don’t let Arakanese people through the gates. Some brokers won’t even let people leave.”
A man from Mandalay reported being stranded in Muse for over six months due to broker fraud without being able to enter China.
“It’s partly because of the brokers and partly because China has strict entry requirements. We came up here to work in China, but we have to deal with different brokers. Some people have been waiting five or six months. Since they provide food allowance, people keep waiting instead of returning home,” he explained.
The Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA) released a statement on 24 December reporting that over 500 Myanmar citizens seeking work in China are being confined in Muse and facing difficulties.
According to the TNLA statement, the majority of those confined are women in their 20s, held in warehouses at the Thein Than Chi truck terminal and in other wards.
A stranded man in Muse said: “We’re surviving on our own. I do daily wage work when it’s available. I don’t stay in the dormitory much. Most people are getting by on money from home or borrowing from others. I have to find ways to survive since things aren’t good at home.”
People who arrived in Muse through brokers (agents) reportedly came in response to job advertisements posted on social media platforms like WeChat, TikTok, and Facebook.
These job postings advertised positions in factories, manufacturing plants, and garment factories in Chinese cities such as Ruili, Mangshi, and Kunming, promising monthly wages above 1,700 yuan.
According to the TNLA’s 24 December statement, brokers have lured workers from across Myanmar with promises of good jobs and high salaries in China, only to confine them in warehouses.
Sent by NMG.
