Dream makers contribute to paukphaw friendship in Ruili

"U Sein Win Aung’s words cheered up all staff members at the center,” said director Shao Yongbao, who, together with trainer Luo Hailin and doctor Hui Chuyuan, shared with us their working experiences in China-Myanmar border town of Ruili.

On March 3, we, the Yunnan Daily reporters, visited the Ruili Service Center for Cross-Border Workers and the Ruili Huiyang Labor Service Company in southwest Yunnan’s Dehong Dai and Jingpo Autonomous Prefecture.

There, some cross-border Myanmar workers were applying for a work permit, others were participating professional training sessions. By working in Ruili, they share opportunities and pursue the dream of common prosperity. To this end, Shao, Luo and Hui embarked on a road of exploration and innovation.

Shao Yongbao: Trying to replace management with service

Ruili City is bordered by Myanmar on three sides. Every year, many Myanmar residents come to Ruili for work, and now more than 10,000 live in Ruili.

A few years ago, the Myanmar migrant workers could only use the "body language" to communicate with the officers in Ruili. This embarrassed the border police officers a lot, including Shao Yongbao, director of Ruili Service Center for Cross-Border Workers.

Over the years, they have tried to solve the problem by: developing an information management system, setting up sub-stations to serve cross-border workers, opening professional trainings in border towns and companies.

"In the past, it took at least half a month to issue a work permit because of the complicated procedures. In June 2013, the Ruili Service Center for Cross-Border Workers was established, which is the first of its kind in China.

As a result, the one-stop service that involves security check, customs clearance, social security, document translation and professional training, is offered to Myanmar people who want to work in Ruili.

Now, a work permit for cross-border workers can be issued in two days. “All the improvements are brought by trying to replace management with service,” said Shao Yongbao. 

Luo Hailin: It's rewarding to serve paukphaw friendship

To better serve the Myanmar migrant workers, the Ruili Huiyang Labor Service Company was jointly set up by China and Myanmar on January 2, releasing job information, safeguarding the labor rights and offering vocational training.

Of these, vocational training is the most popular among Myanmar workers, who showed great respect to the Chinese trainers. One of the most respectable is Luo Hailin, an instructor at China-ASEAN Training Center.

At the China-ASEAN Training Center established by Yunnan Minzu University, also Lancang-Mekong Vocational Education Base or Ruili International Vocational Education and Training Base, training sessions are going on every day.

"In the Myanmar language, ‘paukphaw’ means brother. Having worked at the center for five years, I now fully understand the meaning of this word," said Luo Hailin, aged 65 but speaking vigorously.

Luo Hailin used to be a researcher in ethnic languages. Retired, he chose to stay in Ruili. “We mostly do professional training for Myanmar folks working in Ruili, telling them basics in Chinese laws and letting them learn Ruili customs and professional skills,” said Luo Hailin.

Since the inception of the China-ASEAN Training Center, free vocational training has been offered to more than 10,000 Myanmar migrant workers.

“They are readily willing to learn, and some even have evening classes after work in the day.” Luo said they also conduct training sessions in factories for the convenience of Myanmar workers.

As time goes by, the Chinese instructors and the cross-border workers become friends that help each other in job and daily life. “They mostly work in Yinxiang Motorcycle Factory, and whenever we visit the factory, they would come to greet us,” said Luo.

Luo Hailin added it is rewarding for him to contribute to the China-Myanmar friendship after retirement. He feels fulfilled.

Hui Chuyuan: I’ll keep doing this for them 

“Do you know about the dengue fever? Mosquitoes carrying the disease like water, so water in the vase should be changed every 3 days.” Hui Chuyuan, a health-worker at Jingcheng Hospital, was speaking to the cross-border workers, who listened to her attentively at a training session.

As a Chinese-Myanmar national, Hui Chuyuan has worked in Ruili for 4 years. "Since they work in China for long, it’s necessary to know basics in disease prevention and control to ensure good health." Hui Chuyuan believes health education also bridges friendly exchanges for the two countries.

Hui is busy with work, but she is patient and enjoys doing it bit by bit. "As long as my work is useful and accepted, I will keep on doing it."

In 2014, Mr. U Sein Win Aung, president of Myanmar-China Friendship Association, visited the Ruili Service Center for Cross-Border Workers, and he said: “Thank China for the good service to Myanmar citizens in China.” His words cheered up all staff members of the center.

Reporting by Wang Huan, Liu Rong, Zhang Yinglin and Li Wenjun; trans-editing by Wang Shixue