According to a report from the Ministry of Labor under the military council, the overseas employment of basic workers has been indefinitely suspended due to the declining rate of Myanmar nationals returning from abroad. Currently, only skilled workers and those deployed under government-to-government (G to G) agreements are being permitted to work abroad after careful screening.
All overseas worker deployments were temporarily suspended starting February 14, after which only skilled workers and those under G to G arrangements have been allowed to proceed following thorough verification. Notably, the issuance of Overseas Worker Identification Cards (OWIC) has been completely halted for basic workers. This suspension was implemented under the direct orders of military council chairman Min Aung Hlaing, according to a secretary from the Ministry of Labor.
The military council appointed Chit Swe, former Myanmar ambassador to Thailand, as Minister of Labor on January 31, after which these restrictions on foreign worker deployment were implemented. Currently, only skilled workers and those under G to G agreements are being sent to countries such as Japan, Russia, and Laos, with the Labor Minister personally reviewing and approving their departures.
During military council meetings in Naypyidaw, Min Aung Hlaing has expressed concerns about Myanmar’s foreign currency shortage and insufficient remittances from overseas workers. He has also highlighted issues such as population decline, increased emigration, falling birth rates, and the resulting domestic labor shortages. These factors have been cited as justification for the current restrictions on overseas employment, though the policy has significant implications for Myanmar’s workforce and economy.
