By Yoon Sat - Mar 17, 2025

Starting today, March 17, workers holding a PJ-type employment passport must apply for a five-day advance departure approval from the military council’s Ministry of Labour before they are allowed to leave the country, according to overseas employment agencies.

“They announced this a few days ago. Workers with a valid OWIC card as well as those returning from leave were allowed to depart until midnight on March 15 and 16. But they can no longer leave without prior approval from today, March 17. They all have to follow the same rule whether they are traveling on their own or through an agency,” said an overseas employment agency representative.

The requirement for prior approval was officially announced on March 10, and the implementation of this process began today, March 17.

Workers who are applying for permission include those returning from leave whose leave period has ended, those with valid OWIC cards, and those with complete documentation. However, they will only be allowed to depart from Yangon International Airport once they receive approval from the Ministry of Labour.

The list of approved workers permitted to leave the country will be sent by the Ministry of Labour to Yangon and Mandalay international airports. Those not included in the approved list will not be allowed to leave the country.

Myanmar’s military council reassigned U Chit Swe, the former Myanmar ambassador to Thailand, as the Minister of Labour on January 31. Since then, the ministry has imposed restrictions on OWIC card issuance, tightened visa regulations, and implemented changes in policies affecting migrant workers in Thailand. As a result, many Myanmar workers have faced arrests, and there have been continued efforts to enforce contracts requiring military service upon the expiration of employment agreements.