Migrant gender issues are complex, nuanced, and multi-faceted, a situation which is exacerbated by ongoing conflict in Myanmar as there is potential for more exploitative labour and employment practices.

Women are more likely to suffer harassment (including while trying to cross the border), gender discrimination, lower wages, and must spend more of their time and money on unpaid domestic work and childcare.

52 percent of documented males said they had not witnessed any form of gender discrimination compared to only 35 percent of undocumented females. Both undocumented males and females witnessed more forms of discrimination, demonstrating their precarious and vulnerable position. The most common forms of discrimination witnessed by undocumented female migrants were unequal salaries for similar work (38 percent), having to work longer hours (24 percent), and receiving offensive comments (17 percent).

When asked if women could obtain support for these issues, only 22 percent said yes, a figure which decreases to 20 percent for undocumented female migrants. Similarly, when asked if their company had a sexual harassment policy, 31 percent said no and 27 percent said they were unsure. A total of 43 percent knew their company had one. In Thailand, there are no statutory laws that insist companies must have a sexual harassment policy in place, but several acts and ILO fundamental conventions have been ratified which promote non-discrimination across lines of race and gender.

Documented migrants were more likely to say no formal policies in place whilst undocumented migrants were more likely to say that they were unsure, demonstrating that undocumented migrants are unlikely to be told about these systems or decide to make use of them.

A total of 7 percent of documented female migrants and 4 percent of documented male migrants were aware of a reporting process for discrimination or harassment.