The military council has officially announced strict restrictions on all overseas employment from Myanmar on March 17. Following the suspension of overseas employment since February 14, they declared on March 10 that all individuals with PJ (Private Journey) passports must obtain approval from the Ministry of Labor before traveling abroad. This marks a significant tightening of controls over foreign employment opportunities for Myanmar citizens.
According to the military council’s directives, only after clearing the existing employment contracts and job orders approved before January 30 will they consider new job demands. These new demands will be subject to strict quotas and scrutiny, with Myanmar embassies in respective countries conducting additional verification processes. The screening process will also include thorough background checks of potential overseas workers.
Sources from the Department of Labor indicate that only approximately 1,000 workers per month will be permitted to work abroad. Employment agencies must now take responsibility for ensuring their workers’ remittances to their families and tax payments. Additionally, agencies must provide written guarantees that they will facilitate the return of workers to Myanmar if called upon by the state. This unprecedented level of control has created significant concerns within the overseas employment sector.
Most notably, the military council has completely banned overseas employment for all men aged 18 to 35 who are eligible for military service. Employment agency owners report that these new restrictions mean the process of securing overseas employment will now take between 6 months to a year, significantly longer than previous timeframes. These measures represent a comprehensive attempt to control the movement of working-age citizens, particularly those who might be seeking to avoid mandatory military service under the military council’s recent conscription law.
