Rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers from Myanmar, Covid-19, and agrarian movements

Saturnino M Borras Jr; Jennifer C Franco; Doi Ra; Tom Kramer; Mi Kamoon; Phwe Phyu; Khu Khu Ju; Pietje Vervest; Mary Oo; Kyar Yin Shell; Thu Maung Soe; Ze Dau; Mi Phyu; Mi Saryar Poine; Mi Pakao Jumper; Nai Sawor Mon; Khun Oo; Kyaw Thu; Nwet Kay Khine; Tun Tun Naing; Nila Papa; Lway Htwe Htwe; Lway Hlar Reang; Lway Poe Jay; Naw Seng Jai; Yunan Xu; Chunyu Wang; Jingzhong Ye

doi:10.1007/s10460-021-10262-6

Rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers from Myanmar, Covid-19, and agrarian movements

Agric Human Values. 2022;39(1):315-338. doi: 10.1007/s10460-021-10262-6. Epub 2021 Sep 3.

Authors

Saturnino M Borras Jr^{1

2

3}, Jennifer C Franco^{2

3}, Doi Ra^{1

2}, Tom Kramer², Mi Kamoon², Phwe Phyu², Khu Khu Ju², Pietje Vervest², Mary Oo⁴, Kyar Yin Shell⁵, Thu Maung Soe⁶, Ze Dau⁶, Mi Phyu⁷, Mi Saryar Poine⁸, Mi Pakao Jumper⁹, Nai Sawor Mon¹⁰, Khun Oo¹¹, Kyaw Thu¹², Nwet Kay Khine¹², Tun Tun Naing¹², Nila Papa¹², Lway Htwe Htwe¹³, Lway Hlar Reang¹³, Lway Poe Jay¹³, Naw Seng Jai¹⁴, Yunan Xu¹, Chunyu Wang³, Jingzhong Ye³

Affiliations

¹ International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, Korternaerkade 12, 2518 AX The Hague, The Netherlands.
² Transnational Institute (TNI), De Wittenstraat 25, 1052 AK Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
³ College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD) of China Agricultural University, No. 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Haidan District, Beijing, 100193 People's Republic of China.
⁴ Justice Society, Northern Shan State, Myanmar.
⁵ Lahu Development Network, Eastern Shan State, Myanmar.
⁶ Metta Development Foundation, Pegu, Myanmar.
⁷ Mon Area Community Development Organization, Mon State, Myanmar.
⁸ Mon Women Organization, Mon State, Myanmar.
⁹ Mon Youth Progressive Organization, Mon State, Myanmar.
¹⁰ Mon Region Land Policy Affair Committee, Mon State, Myanmar.
¹¹ Pa-O Youth Organization, Southern Shan State, Myanmar.
¹² Paung Ku, Yangon, Myanmar.
¹³ Ta'ang Students and Youth Organization, Northern Shan State, Myanmar.
¹⁴ Tai Youth Network, Northern Shan State, Myanmar.

Abstract

This paper examines the situation of rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers from Myanmar during the Covid-19 pandemic. It looks at the circumstances of the migrants prior to the global health emergency, before exploring possibilities for a post-pandemic future for this stratum of the working people by raising critical questions addressed to agrarian movements. It does this by focusing on the nature and dynamics of the nexus of land and labour in the context of production and social reproduction, a view that in the context of rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers necessarily requires interrelated perspectives on labour, agrarian, and food justice struggles. This requires a rethinking of the role of land, not as a factor in either production or social reproduction, but as a central component in both spheres simultaneously. The question is not 'whether' it is necessary and desirable to forge multi-class coalitions and struggles against external capital, while not losing sight of the exploitative relations within rural communities and the household; rather, the question is 'how' to achieve this. It will require a messy recursive process, going back and forth between theoretical exploration and practical politics.

Keywords: Covid-19 pandemic; Farmworkers; Food sovereignty; Migrant workers; Myanmar.