CNI News
23 August 2023
Government staffs from the office that issues passports for Myanmar citizens who will leave for foreign countries for many reasons are needed not to be brokers, said the people who are carrying out for the labor affairs, to CNI News.
When the people apply for passports, the staffs for the office have worked as brokers since before and the staffs are often paid some money when filling out the form.
Moreover, currently-used online booking system are more encouraging the staffs to work as brokers, said Ko Thar Gyi, one of the people helping Myanmar migrant workers to CNI News.
“In the office that issues passport in Myawady, there are government staffs who have connected with agents. The agents who have paid the staffs 100,000 or 150,000 kyats for each can draw passports or get token numbers for 100 to 200 people. It goes without saying that staffs from every passport office are working as brokers. Some retired staffs who are related to senior officials still are allowed to work as brokers for 50 or 100 passport books. So, the cost of a passport rises many times than official price.
Those who apply for passports in front of the passport office
So, what I want to say as a whole, there are few staffs who take exact and right responsibility in all the passport offices in Myanmar. When they become passport office staffs, they are exploiting Myanmar people as their business." he said.
Myanmar Passport Office is verifying issuance of passports by Green Channel for MoU workers, religious organizations, those who will go abroad on government duty and the students who will go abroad for further studies.
Moreover, the office has been verifying issuance of passports as soon as possible by Green Channel for the people who need to travel abroad on time due to health and education issues since a few days ago, that the office released.
There are fraudulent activities with brokers asking more money on social media and the people need to watch out not to be cheated, said in the statement released by the office.
Although processing to get passport fast is good, relevant department has to take action against the brokers who are cheating instead of informing the people to watch out, suggested those who are carrying out for the labor affairs.
"A person or a worker cannot fill out the form with necessary facts and does not dare to go into the office. Moreover, if the system has been created to be difficult, they essentially need brokers. At a time like that, the brokers earn income by collaborating with relevant department. Online system is not convenient not only in Myanmar but also here. A worker must get a token from the embassy online after which he has to go to the appointment. He has to fill out the form. In practice, ordinary workers or people do not dare to do that or cannot do that. Then, they need brokers." said U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from FED.
There are prices starting from 250,000 kyats to get a passport at present reportedly. Moreover, if a person lost his passport in Myanmar, he must announce in the state-owned newspaper that he lost his passport.
Six months later, he must be allowed to apply for a new passport, said in a statement released by the passport office.
