Maritime employment agencies and training schools in Yangon have confirmed that the military council has officially banned individuals over 25 years of age from working as seafarers, as an increasing number of young people eligible for military service have been attempting to leave the country through maritime employment. According to the directive issued by the Department of Marine Administration under the military council, effective July 1, all individuals above 25 years of age will be prohibited from pursuing seafarer careers. Additionally, new regulations stipulate that aspiring seafarers must not only be under 25 years old but also achieve an IELTS Four Skills score above 5, demonstrating proficiency in English writing, reading, speaking, and comprehension.
Current statistics from the Department of Marine Administration show that Myanmar has a total of 86,219 seafarers, with 69,100 actively serving on ships and 17,119 new seafarers waiting for job opportunities. The number of new applicants for seafarer registration continues to increase by thousands daily, with particularly high interest among youth aged 18 to 35 years. According to the military council’s statement, the ban was implemented because young people were using seafarer positions not for genuine maritime careers but as a means to leave the country for various reasons. They cited issues such as lack of interest during training, and numerous instances of seafarers abandoning ships upon reaching foreign countries, particularly in Europe and other developed nations.
A veteran seafarer from Yangon explained that thousands of young people between 18 and 35 years of age have been applying for seafarer positions specifically to evade military service. He noted that many abandon their posts once they reach European countries or other favorable destinations, which prompted the military council to implement these restrictions. The military council had already banned foreign employment for those eligible for military service (ages 18-35), and this new restriction on seafarer employment for those over 25 represents a further tightening of these controls. This move reflects the military council’s increasing efforts to prevent young people from leaving the country and potentially evading military service, demonstrating their growing concern over the rising number of youth seeking ways to escape the current situation in Myanmar.
