According to sources from the Ministry of Labor in Naypyidaw, the military council will impose restrictions on the number of Myanmar workers allowed to work abroad and will soon officially announce country-specific quotas. The new regulations will affect major destination countries including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Japan, Korea, and Russia, where Myanmar workers commonly seek employment. The sources indicate that unlike previous practices, there will no longer be unlimited deployments, and the processing procedures will become more time-consuming.
The newly appointed Labor Minister Chit Swe, installed by the military council, revealed plans to implement these restrictions during a meeting with employment agencies on February 15. Additionally, the military council has developed initiatives to recall Myanmar citizens from abroad who are eligible for military service. The Naypyidaw Labor Ministry will directly oversee the re-exit permissions for workers who return home on leave. This represents a significant shift in the management of overseas worker deployments and reflects the military council’s increasing control over civilian movement.
Workers returning on leave who do not possess an Overseas Worker Identification Card (OWIC) must submit a complete application with all required documentation to Naypyidaw. The issuance of OWIC cards, previously handled at the Mayangone office, will now be processed only at the North Dagon office and requires prior approval from Naypyidaw. Even after obtaining an OWIC, workers must submit additional applications to Naypyidaw for permission to leave the country. Significantly, those who fall within the military service age range will not be granted permission to return abroad, effectively trapping them within the country.
Employment agencies report facing severe operational challenges due to the military council’s strict regulations and directives. Agencies specializing in sending skilled workers to Japan particularly highlight the growing difficulties in securing Demand Letters, and even when obtained, deployment remains contingent on the Labor Ministry’s approval. These restrictions have brought the overseas employment sector to a near standstill, according to agency owners. The new measures represent a dramatic shift from previous policies and significantly impact the ability of Myanmar citizens to seek employment opportunities abroad, reflecting the military council’s broader strategy of controlling population movement and enforcing military service requirements.
