By Hanthar Hein - Jun 03, 2024

At present, the official MOU has temporarily stopped the sending of Myanmar laborers as the Malaysian side is re-examining the entry of legal foreign workers, which has been temporarily closed since June 1.

"Many Burmese workers have come to Malaysia since the Covid-19 pandemic. Recently, there have been many arrests. Workers are coming illegally. There are about 500,000 Myanmar nationals in Malaysia," said a Myanmar worker in Malaysia.

From January 2017 to April 2024, more than 200,000 MOU Myanmar workers were sent to Malaysia and most of them work at manufacturing, construction, service, agriculture and livestock industries.

According to the list of 2015, there were 40 workers who went to Malaysia with the MOU, but some did not arrive due to failing to pass their medical test and other reasons. In past 7 years, there were only over 200,000 people who went to work legally, but there were many people who went there illegally as well, according to the Myanmar workers.