CNI News

17 Feb 2023

Amidst post-pandemic political changes, a large number of people have left the country to study abroad, to work and to emigrate and a majority of them are leaving the country for employment.

The problem is attributed to unemployment and low wages at home, Myanmar labour activists in other countries told the CNI.

Ko Khant Nay Chi, who has been working for migrant workers in Busan, Korea, told the CNI," People have moving to work in countries where they can get higher wages for 30 years. As there are development gaps among countries, wages vary significantly. At the same time, employment rates in our country have increased and the number of migrant workers has grown in our country. During the outbreak of COVID-19, South Korea banned migrant workers and the labour shortages have undermined their economic growth. As a result, they have to hire foreign workers including those from Myanmar in large numbers.

Currently, large numbers of Myanmar people are leaving the country for other countries including South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and the United Arab Emirates.

Domestic businesses were hurt during the pandemic and had to suspend their operations due to political changes, Chairman U Zaw Zaw of Hoteliers Association Shan State (North) told the CNI.

Myanmar passport applicant

He added that employers have offered their employees a basic salary of MMK 150,000, they have to try very hard to meet both ends very hard due to rising commodities and depreciation of the Kyat currency.

He added, "We offer higher wages for more competent workers. Businesses have been disrupted by the pandemic and the coup. Then, we encountered the depreciation of the currency. We have been facing one challenge after another. As a result, we have not been able to focus on the needs of our staff.

However, most Myanmar migrant workers who go abroad are unskilled workers and there are only a few skilled workers, according to labour activists.

Moreover, the number of students who go abroad has increased, causing brain drain in Myanmar, Advisor U Aung Kyaw of the Migrant Workers Right Network told the CNI.

He told the CNI," Youth are the resources of the country. They play an essential role in the development of the country. Instead of endeavoring the development of the country, they are abroad. We are worried about the future of the country."

It is necessary to understand the laws of the countries before migrant workers go to other countries, labour activists said.