The military council has indefinitely suspended foreign employment permissions for basic workers due to the low rate of Myanmar nationals returning from abroad, according to the Ministry of Labor in Naypyidaw. Currently, only skilled workers and those going abroad under Government-to-Government (G to G) agreements are being permitted after screening, sources from the ministry reported.
All foreign worker deployments have been temporarily suspended since February 14, after which the Labor Ministry has only been approving skilled workers and those under G to G arrangements. Notably, the issuance of Overseas Worker Identification Cards (OWIC), which are essential for foreign employment, has also been temporarily suspended for basic workers. This significant policy change came after Min Aung Hlaing appointed Chit Swe, former Myanmar Ambassador to Thailand, as Labor Minister on January 31.
Currently, only skilled workers heading to Japan and Russia, and workers under G to G arrangements going to Laos are being permitted to leave the country, with the Labor Minister personally reviewing these cases. The military council has cited several concerns, including the low receipt of foreign currency remittances from Myanmar workers abroad and the minimal rate of return migration, which they claim has led to human resource losses and labor shortages within the country.
During a military council meeting on January 17, Min Aung Hlaing disclosed that Myanmar’s population has been declining due to various factors, including increased emigration for various reasons, deaths, and declining birth rates. The military council has expressed particular concern about the impact of these demographic changes on the domestic workforce. The decision to restrict foreign employment appears to be part of their attempt to address these issues, though it has raised concerns about limiting economic opportunities for Myanmar’s workforce. The military council’s approach to managing labor migration has significant implications for both the country’s economy and its working population, particularly affecting those seeking basic labor opportunities abroad.
