CNI News

12 June 2024

After men were allowed to work abroad with an age limit, banning on applying for passport for visit (PV) from passport for job (PJ) was not an answer, pointed out the people are carrying out for the sake of workers.

Since the restriction on men to work abroad, other people who would go abroad in other ways might be tightened, that he reviewed in advance and more restriction on permission to go abroad was not an answer, U Min Oo, in charge of labor affairs from the Foundation for Education and Development (FED) told CNI News.

"The government is worried that those who go against the government go abroad in some way and will collaborate with the organizations and international community, but it's not an answer. To tell you frankly, because nothing is systematical in our country, everything has deteriorated already, that we can say. If something happens, they order to ban or suspend it. Something like that can't resolve the problem. The government should consult with relevant experts how to resolve the problem." he said.

Because of restriction on permission to work abroad, PJ holders were making preparations to apply for PVs in order to go abroad. However, the government has banned on applying for PV from PJ since 6th June, 2024. 

While seeing those who are trying to go abroad

Although the government is getting foreign income from its citizens working abroad, restriction on working abroad might be related to politics, reviewed the people who are carrying out for the affairs of workers.

If the restriction on going abroad was a wrong way, it would make the public get into trouble, Ko Naing Naing Aung, director of the Arakan Workers Organization, told CNI News.

" The main reason is that restriction is conducted in various ways because of the conscription law. If the restriction was a wrong way, there  would be an increase in the number of undocumented people and human trafficking. There will be more violence against women. These are worrisome. According to the current situation, many young people will go abroad whether they get PJs or PVs. When they leave the country with PVs, they become illegal workers. At any rate, migrant workers can't be threatened." he said.

While seeing those who will go abroad to work

Among the migrant workers who came back on leave, those who could not show any evidence that they transferred money monthly to their families would not be issued OWIC cards, which the Labor Directorate has announced. 

They have to legally transfer money through international money transferring businesses such as Western Union, IME, RIA and Money Gram. For example, a worker who returned from Thailand - if his salary was 800,000 kyats, he must have transferred 25 percent of his salary to his family each month.