From Displacement to Dignity: Soe Ko Ko Naing and the Road to Decent Work

After more than a decade in Thailand, Soe Ko Ko Naing is best known as a co-founder of the Migrant Worker Solidarity Community (MWSC) in Samut Sakhon. The community supports migrant workers to push for fair treatment and safe working conditions, with support from the International Labour Organization (ILO). What began as a small collective has grown into a network of more than 1,000 migrant workers standing together for dignity at work. Together, they advocate for safer workplaces and fair labour practices.

Soe’s early years in Thailand, after fleeing conflict in Myanmar, were uncertain. Work was hard to find. Information about rights and support was scarce. Like many migrants, he had to navigate unfamiliar systems on his own, learning quickly how gaps in protection leave workers exposed.

A turning point came when he connected with the Migrant Worker Resource Centres (MRCs). The centres offered practical guidance on labour rights and services. That knowledge became a foundation for helping others. It led to his work with the Labour Rights Foundation (LRF) and, later, collaboration with the ILO.

“Behind every product is a life, a dream, and dedication,” Soe says. “Sustainability must go hand in hand with fairness and safety at work.” His mission is straightforward: to help migrant workers understand their rights, stand up for their dignity, and support one another. It is grounded in the belief that migrant workers are not invisible, but essential contributors to the economies they sustain.