Thai taxi drivers accuse Myanmar three-wheeled motorcycle drivers of stealing their jobs

Mekong, July 13 Local residents in Tachilek have reported that Myanmar three-wheeled motorcycle drivers operating in Mae Sai district, Thailand, after crossing the Myanmar-Thailand Friendship Bridge No. 1 from Tachilek city in eastern Shan State, are violating set rules and regulations and are stealing jobs from Thai taxi drivers, according to a post on a Thai social media network. The post was published yesterday, July 12, and comments below it refer to responsible officials to take action, a local resident of Tachilek said. The post reads, "In Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province, three-wheeled motorcycles from neighboring countries are reportedly operating with taxi signs, and Mae Sai locals have filed further complaints. Isn't this action stealing the jobs of Thai people? " The post also includes a photo of a three-wheeled motorcycle with the sign "Bandula" in Burmese and "TAXI" in English, operating within Mae Sai city. In response to these complaints, local residents in Tachilek have advised that three-wheeled motorcycle drivers from Tachilek should immediately return to Tachilek after dropping off some passengers in Mae Sai, without lingering at the drop-off point. Furthermore, the post states that waiting for passengers at the long-distance bus terminals in Mae Sai, as shown in the photo, is not in compliance with the Land Transport Law, and that openly advertising as a three-wheeled motorcycle taxi is also illegal in Thailand. Regarding this issue, a Myanmar three-wheeled motorcycle driver said, "No one, not just Myanmar taxi drivers, has the right to pick up passengers from the bus terminal. Currently, we are transporting passengers from Myanmar to the Mae Sai bus terminal, and this is done with the permission of both countries. The red line bus drivers in Thailand are jealous of this. What they want is for passengers to be dropped off at the Mae Sai bridgehead, and they want to transport them to the Mae Sai bus terminal. Look at the Mae Sai bus terminal. They surround and attack these guys in groups. Myanmar three-wheeled drivers know this. They know they have the right to drop off, but not to pick up." It is known that in Thailand, driving motor vehicles is among the 27 occupations that are exclusively restricted to Thai nationals and are strictly prohibited for foreign migrant workers. Therefore, with increased crackdowns, it is being advised and suggested that there may be arrests and restrictions on Myanmar three-wheeled motorcycle taxis in Mae Sai as well. #MeKongNews #Tachilek #MaeSai #ThreeWheeledMotorcycle #ThaiTaxiDrivers