By Yoon Sat - May 02, 2024
Starting May 1, 2024, the military council has banned men from leaving and working abroad for an indefinite period.
"Yes. It's true. There's no time limit. I don't know much details on that," confirmed an entrepreneur sending workers abroad.
The number of migrant workers is on the rise in the time of political and economic turmoil and the ban on migrant work may become more of a force, said Daw Thet Thet Aung, a leader of Future Lights Center, a labor movement organization that opposes the ban on migrant workers.
"Actually, I see that migrant workers are something that can never be restricted. In such a situation, I see that it will become more of a force when the government bans it by force. When we think about the sectors, we look at the reasons of why people leave their country and move to another, I see that this kind of situation is one of the reason," she remarked.
According to Myanmar's current situation, political conflicts and economic hardships and natural disasters have increased migration, and this ban will harm the migrant workers sector that receives foreign income, and it will become more difficult and the future of the youth will be blocked, a labor activist said.
The Military Council ban the permit to work abroad without informing. Women will still receive job offers because it only impacts on the male workers.
"Only male demand is restricted but not foe female. Those who got old demands could go," said an entrepreneur who sends workers to foreign countries.
“This is directly related to the military service law because it is restricted to men only, and this is a prevention of the large number of young people who don’t want to serve in the military leaving the country,” according to the Myanmar labor activist in Thailand.
"This is something we have already expected. We know that the impact will begin once Thingyan is over, Students will be restricted from study abroad. This is already been expected. But long will it be restricted? Young people will choose the illegal path," said a Myanmar labor activist from Thailand.
Regarding the ban, "Every country counts. This means only those who have submitted a demand starting this May 1st. Those who have already received permission will not be included. It depends on the situations to neutralize the restrictions. That's all we can say," U Nyunt Win, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Labor of the regime, told Myanmar Now news agency.
"Many things are relating with the military service law. Many young people have left abroad after that. This is a situation that should be considered carefully. Under these circumstances, I see that young peoples’ dreams and futures are robbed again," said Daw Thet Thet Aung.
Massive number of men between the ages of 18 and 45 were going to foreign countries both legally and illegally due to the Military Council's conscription law after the coup. It is also reported that illegal immigration may rise even more because of the ban as young people are leaving in large numbers.
“In the future I see that there would be migrant workers’ issues no matter how they restricted. Even around in 2012, many people choose the illegal ways to go work even when we are educating them to go legally with MOU system. There will be shortage of proficient workers in local factories and workshops. They are working in foreign countries. Human trafficking among young people can increase exponentially due to illegal migrations, and people can be arrested due to the laws of the other country,” she said.
