CNI News

1 Nov 2023

Although the number of overseas employment agencies has become more, calling jobs from other countries has become fewer, according to overseas employment agencies. 

Although there are currently nearly 500 agencies, calling jobs from other countries is unequally fewer, U Win Myint, managing director of Lucky Overseas Employment Agency told CNI News.

" Jobs have got scarce. Calling jobs from Malaysia is almost none and that from Thailand has reduced. So, although agencies have licenses, they are struggling to exist. Japan hasn't stop calling jobs and nor has Thailand. But they have reduced recruitment. There are still liars. Those who want to go abroad for work should directly contact licensed agencies." he said.

While seeing the office of the Ministry of Labor

There were 484 licensed overseas employment agencies in Myanmar as of last September and of them, 10 was suspended. So, 474 agencies are now operating, according to the Ministry of Labor. Although some people has paid service charges to agencies, they have not been able to go abroad. 

" Some employers from Thailand have broken the agreement. When the productions were reduced according to their business need, they could not employ any more of recruits. The agreements have been signed here in Myanmar. Work permits have been got as well. The problems arose when the workers were going abroad. There are very bad employers and agencies on the Thai side. We have blacklisted them. But the agencies here in Myanmar had to compensate a lot of money." said U Myat Thu, general secretart of the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation, to CNI News.

Many foreign countries faced with economic damages beyond the Covid-19 pandemic and they had to reduce recruitment. A lot of workers go to Malaysia in a form of free calling and they are working in their former jobs, according to agencies. However, calling jobs from South Korea is just normal, U Myat Thu told CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar workers who want to go abroad for work

" Demand and supply are not equal. Because there were delays here in Myanmar, a lot of young workers left for Thailand illegally. There are too many agencies. When job demands are scarce, service charges have become high. I'd like to tell the agencies to keep business ethnics." he said.

Moreover, the Ministry of Labor is planning to raise license insurance fee for agencies from 250 to 1,000 lakh kyats and for agencies sending workers to Thailand, from 50 to 100 lakh kyats.