MYANMAR nationals are making their presence felt here, not just in their red t-shirts joining the queue outside their embassy along St Martin's Drive, but in other sectors of Singapore too.

The Myanmar embassy estimates that there are about 100,000 of its nationals living here now, up from 60,000 in the beginning of last year.

That is a 40 per cent jump, fuelled by the domestic unrest in the country triggered by the 'saffron' protest in August last year, when monks demonstrated against the price of fuel.

Some 75,000 people reportedly fled their homes in East Myanmar amid the conflict, which left about 500,000 people displaced.

Most of the Myanmar nationals here hold employment passes or work permits, and jobs in the accounting, engineering, construction sectors. More and more of them also come as maids.

Most come here in search of money and a better life, they told The Straits Times.

'There are more opportunities here, and we can get access to the Internet, a wide range of books and reference materials from the library,' said Ms Ei Thet Khine, 29, of the privileges she does not get at home.

Read the full story in Friday's edition of The Straits Times.