The Yangon authorities will investigate Ks 5,000 (US$3.8) shops to know whether they harbour illegal immigrants today (November 28), sources say.
The operation began after Yangon Minister Zaw Aye Maung for Rakhine ethnic affairs stated that he would take action against illegal immigrants in Yangon at a regional parliamentary session.
The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC), the general administration department, customs officials and the immigration department will conduct jointly the operation to discover firms that employ illegal foreign workers.
Regional MP Than Naing Oo from Pabedan Constituency-1 suggested that the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population check the visas of Chinese workers and other foreign citizens.
“At the Vietnamese-built shopping malls, on hotels and motels in Pabedan, Sanchaung and even on Pyay Road, it’s important to know the visa details of people who are being paid salaries many times higher than our citizens. In places such as Junction Square, there are many Chinese people drinking at night, none with proper documents. As far as I know, they don’t pay taxes either. Most of them come through the borders such as Shwe Li. There are so many Chinese immigrants in Mandalay right now as well. They need to be investigated and regulated,” the regional MP said.
He added: “We won’t take action against them immediately. This is an education period. We just want to check their visas.”
The operation will also cover construction sites, and the YCDC has asked for employee rosters from developers.
An economist involved in drafting the National League for Democracy’s economic policy said: “There may be many illegal businesses such as these shops run by Chinese citizens, multi-level marketing firms, real estate and money changers. The first point is that the government cannot collect taxes from them. Secondly, their manipulations can undermine the stability of money in addition to the cash flow. The ministry, the Bureau of Special Investigation and other departments should tackle these problems.”
Under the Myanmar immigration emergency provisions act (1947), illegal immigrants and whoever keeps them will be sentenced to prison for up to five years and/or fined Ks 1,500 upon conviction.
Source: Eleven Myanmar
