CNI News
7 December 2023

Of the countries where Myanmar workers go and work, in some countries production has declined due to instabilities across the world.

So, Myanmar workers are facing with difficulties reportedly. In Malaysia, which is suffering from a manufacturing and economic downturn, workers can no longer be paid overtime.

Moreover, with a much denser population than usual, employment has been scarce and the number of labors has been reduced, U Barbu Gyi, helping Myanmar people in Malaysia, told CNI News.

" Difficulties are increasing. Employment and wages have declined because Malaysia had agreed with Bangladesh to hire a lot of Bangladeshi workers. These workers entering Malaysia everyday. Some large factories in Malaysia are obviously reducing Myanmar workers. Only legal workers have been employed." he said.

While seeing Myanmar workers at a construction site

Although production has not declined in South Korea, hourly wages, which increase once a year, will be cut in half by 2024 than in the past, Ko Khant Nay Kyi, in charge of the Migrant Workers Assistance Center in Busan, told CNI News.

" In the coming year, the target letter has come out to hire around 160,000 migrant workers. Although about 50,000 migrant workers were hired each year, because about 150,000 migrant workers will be hired, the employment has not been scarce. In 2023, hourly wages were 9,620 won and in 2022, 9,160 won. But in 2024, hourly wages are just 9,680 won. So, over 100 wons only will increase. There were years when 200 to 1,000 wons increased in the past." said Ko Khant Nay Kyi.

Those who came to work in South Korea with new E73 visa that arose after the Covid-19 pandemic - their rights were violated reportedly. The people who came with these visas don't need to take a language proficiency test and to be be fluent in the language.

Two workers at a factory in South Korea

They were taken with direct link between agency and company and most of them  have to work in the shipyard industry reportedly.

Although South Korea and Japan are regularly being called, Malaysia and Thailand have reduced calling Myanmar workers, according to overseas employment agencies.

" Depending on the global economic decline, both Thailand and Malaysia have reduced labor recruitment. The Malaysian government doesn't issue new labor permits." said U Win Myint, managing director of the Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, to CNI News.

Despite the scarcity of jobs and other difficulties in some countries, the number of Myanmar workers who want to go abroad for work has not declined reportedly.

While some Myanmar workers are waiting to go abroad through legal channels, others are going abroad through illegal channels every day.