Si Thu Lin, a master’s student at the Asian Institute of Technology, recently completed his program under the supervision of Dr. Kyoko Kusakabe with a study on Myanmar women migrant’s work in Thailand’s dried fish industry. In his work with women migrants in Samut Sakhon province of Thailand, Lin explored the challenges and aspirations of these women within the dried fish value chain. He looked at their struggles and identified paths toward empowerment. The dried fish industry emerges as a vital lifeline for migrant women. Lin’s study shed light on the complex factors influencing migrant women’s engagement, the perceived value of dried fish, and the many barriers Myanmar immigrant women face in this industry. Women who own dried fish enterprises face multifaceted challenges: limited access to resources, technology, education, and persistent discrimination. This context hinders gender equality in the sector. His study identified the diverse motivations that led women to become involved in the dried fish business, their resilience in the face of challenging life circumstances, and the allure of a culturally familiar trade. While market demand for dried fish products emerged as a powerful driving force, disparities in material wellbeing among participants persist. Lin’s study highlighted issues like legal status, job perceptions, financial struggles, and limited market expansion, all of which have an impact on migrant women. Beyond these challenges, however, Lin’s study emphasized the benefits of migrant women’s involvement in dried fish production on their relational and subjective wellbeing. That engagement fostered relationships and expanded social networks. Lin’s study thus lays the groundwork for a more inclusive and empowering narrative within the dried fish industry, urging stakeholders to take proactive measures to create an equitable environment, ensuring these resilient women have equal opportunities to thrive and contribute to the industry.
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