By Ma Ma- Dec 27, 2024

As the rate of workers seeking overseas employment rises, the number of agencies licensed to send workers abroad has surpassed 600 as of the second week of December 2024, according to official records.

Since the military coup, licenses for sending overseas workers have been easily issued, but follow-up regulatory actions remain weak. This situation has led to an increase in recruiters collecting advance payments from those seeking employment abroad without fulfilling their obligations.

"To be honest, finding suitable workers is tough with the current policies and age restrictions. Additionally, the demand for workers in some countries has decreased, and the number of agencies has increased. It’s not a favorable environment," commented from a licensed agent.

Currently, the military regime has restricted the age of eligible male workers for overseas employment to between 23 and 31 years. The declining value of the kyat, skyrocketing commodity prices, oppressive governance, and forced conscription have driven more people to seek opportunities abroad, with the rate of illegal migration also increasing.

"Now, even licensed agencies charge more than the officially set service fees. In some cases, workers are sent through the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) system only to face job misassignments or unemployment upon arrival. Reporting and addressing these issues is becoming increasingly difficult," said a person assisting migrant workers.

The military regime has done little to address the violations committed by licensed agencies. Instead, it focuses on generating foreign currency by imposing taxes on overseas workers and requiring agencies to ensure that 25% of their workers’ basic salaries are officially remitted back to Myanmar through authorized bank channels.