CNI News
8 May 2024
Banning men's right to work abroad indefinitely could affect the recruitment markets of neighboring countries, those who carry out for the affairs of migrant workers and agencies told CNI News.
The Myanmar men who have held passports for job (PJ) have been banned from working abroad indefinitely since 1st May, 2024 by the Ministry of Labor.
Because of banning like that, neighboring countries would recruit workers from other countries instead of ones from Myanmar. So, the ban could affect the recruitment market, U Min Oo, In charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development, told CNI News.
While seeing Myanmar citizens who will go abroad to work
" Neighboring countries need workers from Myanmar. It's right. But when they find it difficult to recruit workers from Myanmar, they will recruit workers from other countries such as Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. Moreover, Thailand and Bangladesh discussed the free trade and reached some agreements." he said.
Although Thailand, a neighboring country of Myanmar, often recruits MoU workers from Myanmar, if Myanmar has banned its men to work abroad for long, those living illegally might be officially recruited.
Banning men from working abroad could take a few months, reviewed among overseas employment agencies.
Banning like that affects overseas employment agencies and they are waiting for the time when the ban will be lifted reportedly.
While seeing Myanmar citizens who will go abroad to work
When foreign countries recruit workers from Myanmar, they mainly tend to recruit Myanmar men. So, if Myanmar women were not included in the demand letters, overseas employment agencies would suspend their businesses, U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, told CNI News.
" Myanmar woman workers are 10 percent of all Myanmar workers who are recruited by foreign countries. We can continue our business if Myanmar woman workers are included in the demand letters." he said.
Although men who have held PJ passports have been banned from working abroad starting from 1st May, 2024, those who have been allowed to work abroad before that date can go abroad reportedly.
Banning like that encourages men to go abroad through illegal channels kind of, pointed out some people.
