CNI News

24 July 2024

In sending Myanmar workers to Japan, women workers are being mainly sent rather than men, overseas employment agencies sending workers to Japan told CNI News. 

Foodstuff industry, restaurants and homes for the aged are largely offering jobs, an official from an overseas employment agency for Japan told CNI News.

"There are job vacancies. But in Myanmar there are limitations relating to sending workers abroad. In sending workers abroad, girls outnumber boys because girls have to work in factories. Boys are needed for construction sites only. At present, there are more interviews for girls who are mostly skilled workers. It's not been clear what the situations of boys are. Moreover, men between 23 and 32 are banned from working abroad." he said.

A meat and fish workplace in Japan

So, agencies are calling those who are free from age limits and woman workers. Japan has been calling more Myanmar woman workers than Myanmar man workers since before.

"Boys have less chance to work abroad because of an age limit. But later, many boys might be called to work in hotels. But those who are free from an age limit must be interviewed." said an official from an overseas employment agency.

At present, the Japanese companies have offered 440 demand letters for Myanmar workers, stated the Myanmar Embassy to Japan in Tokyo. 

The embassy verified facts and information that have been described in the demand letters and informed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of that reportedly.

CNI News

24 July 2024

There have been reviews and discussions among political circles regarding what could be done after Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council (SAC) took over the role of Acting President.

While Acting President U Myint Swe was absent from his responsibilities because he had taken medical leave, he handed over the role of Acting President to the chairman of the SAC on 22nd July, 2024 so that the matters relating to the National Defense and Security Council could be carried out.

The SAC's extension to the state of emergency will expire on 31st July, 2024 and the meeting of NDSC must be held on that day. 

Because the current Acting President had taken a medical leave, the Acting President was needed at the meeting of the NDSC that would be held on 31st July 2024, the Chairman of the Karen National Democratic Party Mahn Pyi Aung Soe told CNI News.

While seeing U Myint Swe

"If he is not given the role of acting president, who will be given? There are different opinions about that. As for me, we have to watch. Rumor had it that the role of the Acting President would be handed over to Ex-President U Thein Sein who paid a visit to China or the Commander in Chief of the Defense Services would be handed over. Now the C in C has taken over the role of Acting President. In the past, the Acting President and Vice President were able to attend the meeting of the NDSC. But now, the Acting President and Vice President are no more. If the meeting was held, C in C and Acting President would be the same person." he said.

Because of political change that started on 1st February,2021, the SAC has taken the responsibility of the State for over three years. 

As the chairman of the SAC has all current powers, although he has taken the role of Acting President, it doesn't mean that he has got any more power, U Than Soe Naing, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

"It's just another name. In fact, all powers have been in his hands. So, it's not necessary to hand in another power to him. But he might use the name of the President when the orders and announcements are released." he said.

After saying that the NLD was trying to form a government without solving the ballot dispute in the 2020 general election, the Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on 1st February, 2021 and took power after announcing the state of emergency.

The Chairman of the SAC took over the role of Acting President because of the bad health of Acting President U Myint Swe in order that the matters relating to the NDSC can be carried out.

CNI News

23 July 2024

Although over 80,000 undocumented Myanmar people were arrested in Thailand within one month, there are still many Myanmar people who are coming through illegal routes,  those who are providing service for the affairs of migrant workers told CNI News.

The reason why a lot of Myanmar people are entering Thailand through illegal routes was not because Thailand persuaded them or the people did not violate the law but the Myanmar's poor governance has pushed to do so, U Aung Kyaw from the Labors' Rights Foundation (LRF) told CNI News.

" This is also because of our country's poor management. The conscription law that every grownup must do a military job is pushing youths to go abroad. The MoU system called G to G was good. According the system, youths could go to Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand freely through agencies. But now as those who will go abroad through agencies have been restricted, this is a push to make youths go abroad illegally." he said.

While the Thai authorities were examining the documents of migrant workers

The Thai authorities are implementing the 120-day special operation to arrest undocumented foreigners and checked the workplaces in many parts of the country and arrested over 100,000 undocumented workers.

Among those arrested, over 80,000 were from Myanmar, and over 10,000 from Cambodia, over 7,000 from Laos, over 1,000 from Vietnam and over 3,000 from other countries reportedly. 

Although the Thai Ministry of Labor has announced that it will issue work permits for illegal foreign workers, because the exact date has not been stated,more and more workers from other countries are entering Thailand through illegal routes reportedly.

Most of those who arrived illegally are mainly staying and working on the Thai side in the border region and they have not fully got officially designated wages up to now, a person who is staying and working in Thailand told CNI News.

While seeing Myanmar migrant workers

"Because there is a demand for workers, the Thai employers are hiring new workers as able as they can. On the other hands, the Thai governments has imposed various laws relating to foreign workers. The laws are related to wages. Wages are designated, depending on the economic growth of a district. Daily wages are designated 363 Baht in Bangkok and Samut Sakhon and 322 Baht in the border areas. But workers have not enjoyed full wages designated up to now." he said.

Among those arrested, 473 Myanmar citizens would be prosecuted and punished because they illegally entered, worked without permission and worked in jobs where there was no rights for them to work reportedly.

The Thai authorities have officially released the 120-day plan that will take actions against migrant workers who don't have complete evidence and the actions contain arrests, fining and sending them back to their native countries. 

The implementation of the plan was launched in June.

CNI News

July 23, 2024

Acting President U Myint Swe handed over the role of Acting President to Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing, Chairman of the State Administration Council on 22nd July, 2024, reported the SAC. 

The SAC reported earlier that U Myint Swe was receiving medical treatment, taking medical leave because he was in bad health.

In order to go on carrying out the matters relating to the National Defense and Security Council and because of failing to perform the duties of the Acting President who has taken medical leave, while the Acting President is unable to serve his duties, the role of the Acting President would be handed over to the chairman of the SAC, said in a letter sent by the office of the Acting President to the office of the SAC.

Transferring the matters of the NDSC and the responsibilities of the Acting President to the chairman of the SAC was performed with signing on 22nd July 2024 after the notification was sent, reported the SAC.

Six months was extended to the state of emergency in January 2024 by the NDSC and the extension will expire on 31st July 2024.

The meeting of the NDSC will be held on 31st July 2024 and whether the state of emergency will be extended for another six months or what to do next will be discussed at the meeting.

U Myint Swe served as the Acting President since 1st February 2021 when the Myanmar Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government after saying the NLD was trying to form a government without resolving the ballot dispute in the 2020 general election, until June, 2024.

At president, Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing is serving the responsibilities of the Acting President, the Prime Minister and the Commander in Chief of the Defense Services.

CNI News

23 July 2024

The six month extension of the state of emergency by the State Administration Council (SAC) led by Sr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing will have expired on 31st July, 2024 and so, there are some reviews among political circles regarding what changes the SAC might make. 

The state of emergency was extended for another six months at the meeting of the National Defense and Security Council that was held on 1st January, 2024.

Because the six month extension will expire on 31st July, 2024, there are reviews and discussions regarding whether the state of emergency will be extended for another six months or a transitional government will be formed.

The current Acting President U Myint Swe had to undergo some surgeries and continues to suffer from nervous weakness. So, after taking medical leave, he is receiving healthcare at home and his health condition has not improved. 

While seeing the National Defense and Security Council

Moreover, he has not been able to do daily routine movement including eating foods, stated the SAC.

It was impossible to predict what changes would be made by the SAC, but a big change could be made, Col.Khun Okkar, patron of the Pa-O National Liberation Organization (PNLO), told CNI News.

" There are different opinions. Personally, I can't estimate, but a big change can be made." he said. 

Acting President U Myint Swe who is receiving medical treatment might be replaced with President (retired) U Thein Sein, review some people.

The state of emergency would be extended for another six months by the SAC so that census-taking could be conducted in October, Dr.Aye Maung, chairman of the Arakan Front Party (AFP) told CNI News.

" Only if the state of emergency is extended for another six months, could the census-taking be conducted in October by the SAC. I'm just telling the necessity. Another six month extension will reach until 31st January, 2025. And then, only if any more of six months is extended, can we pass through the rainy season. Elections are likely to be held in November or December, 2025." he said.

After saying that the NLD was trying to form a government without resolving the ballot dispute in the 2020 general election, the Tatmadaw overthrew the NLD government on 1st February 2021 and has taken the State power after announcing the state of emergency.

According to the current situations, because it was necessary to continue to carry out the anti-terrorism and not a normal situation, Acting President allowed to extend another six months.

CNI News
19 July 2024

Because Acting President U Myint Swe's health condition has not improved, he is receiving close healthcare, the State Administration Council (SAC) reported on 18th July 2024.

Acting President U Myint Swe has suffered from slow movement and the ability to eat a small amount of food since early 2023.

So, he has received regular medical treatment from the medical team that contains specialists, said in the statement.

According to medical checkups, he was suffering from muscle twitch and nervous degeneration. So, he was sent to the Mount Elizabeth Medical Centre in Singapore and he received brain and neurological examination and treatment from 15th to 19th April, 2024.

 After that  he received medical treatment at the No-2 Tatmadaw Hospital (1,000 Beds) from 27th May to 18th June, stated the SAC.

"During those periods, he received cataract surgical treatment and his vision improved. However, because he has been continuously suffering from nervous weakness disease, taking medical leave from 18th June to 30th July, he is receiving close healthcare from the special medical team” said in the statement.

Minister for Health Dr.Thet Khaing Win and a special medical team that contains eight specialists conducted a medical checkup on 30th June and on 14th July and found that his health had not improved.

Because he was not able to do daily normal movement including eating food, the SAC made arrangements to provide him with close healthcare everyday, stated the SAC.

U Myint Swe was Vice President (1) under the NLD government and after the NLD was overthrown on 1st February 2021, he became Acting President.

As the six month extension of the SAC for the state of emergency will expire on 31th July, 2024, it is interesting to know whether the SAC will allow U Myint Swe to retire or what to do next, the political circles are reviewing and discussing.

CNI News

19 July 2024

Calling workers with fake demand letters through illegal channels by agents and brokers has increased to send workers to Malaysia that has suspended calling migrant workers, Myanmar nationalities organizations told CNI News.

There has been a sharp increase in the number of financial fraud agents and brokers who exploit Myanmar workers facing crisis to work abroad with fake demand letters and the Malaysian government has not had a plan to call foreign workers up to now, U Nyi Nyi Lwin, Director General of the Center for Arakan Refugees, told CNI News.

" Because many Myanmar people want to work abroad, those who want to cheat have emerged. You can't go abroad to work officially with fake demand letters. Some demand letters use the name of a company, but when you arrive in Malaysia, you have to find a job yourself. In fact, there are hardly any factories in Malaysia that offer jobs. When the workers arrive in Malaysia, some get jobs and others don't. If you have a permit, it is easy for you to get a job. Now workers with no permits are not largely hired. In the past, if you had a UNHCR card or a community card or passport or nothing, you might be hired. Now the Immigration Department is conducting a lot of arrests." he said.

The Malaysian government has banned foreign workers to enter its country since the end of April and demand letters issuance processes have been suspended reportedly.

There are over 500 licensed overseas employment agencies in Myanmar, and brokers and agents are included in the agencies. Some agencies change the workers' passport for job (PJ) into passport for visit (PV) and are directly sending workers to Malaysia through Thailand reportedly.

Because the State Administration Council (SAC) has tightened leaving abroad at present, overseas employment agencies don't have to do a lot of work like in the past, U Win Myint, Managing Director of Lucky Overseas Employment Agency, told CNI News.

" There are people who send workers abroad. I don't know how they send. They might send workers to Malaysia through Bangkok. Because we are a licensed agency, we can't act like a broker. Only when we receive a genuine demand letter, can we send workers. Agencies try to send workers to China, but it's not easy because China has tightened its policies. Several workers leave for other countries. But most workers enter foreign countries through illegal channels. At present, workers go abroad with PV because PJ has an age limit to work abroad. Demand letters have been scarce." he said.

The Ministry of Labor is pushing agencies to ask workers who go abroad through agencies to transfer money to the families and income tax officially. 

The ministry has instructed agencies to submit personal information of the workers who were sent abroad between April and December, 2023 and there are almost 400 agencies who failed to submit, said in the statement by the ministry.

Asking for personal information is intended to tackle whether workers have transferred money to their families or not reportedly.

CNI News

19 July 2024

There are reviews and discussion among political circles regarding what the China's attitude towards the election that will be held by the State Administration Council (SAC). 

During the trip to China of Vice Chairman of the SAC Deputy Commander in Chief Vice Sr-Gen Soe Win who attended the meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), he discussed with the Chinese officials in relation to holding the election.

 If the election was an answer to the peace of Myanmar, China would want Myanmar to hold the election, Mahn Pyi Aung Soe, chairman of the Karen National Democratic Party (KNDP), told CNI News.

" If the election was an answer to the peace of Myanmar, China would want Myanmar to hold the election. Generally, I would like to review so." he said.

However, due to armed conflicts taking place in the country, he was not sure to what extent the election could be held, he added. The election was a political exit for the SAC and China would take it into account, depending on its interests, Dr. Hla Kyaw Zaw, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

While seeing U Thein Sein and Xi Jinping

" Whether the election will be really held or not is just a part. The reason why they (SAC) are talking about the election is that they want to say their coup d'état is just and fair. Saying that the NLD conducted vote defraud in the election, they said that they had to take power. And they have said that they would hand over the State power to the winning party after holding a general election. If the election is held, China is telling the SAC that important political elements including the NLD should be included in the election. It will be discussed, I think. I don't want anybody to hope so much the election that will be sponsored by the SAC even though China supports. China will carry out, depending on its interests." she said.

The SAC has said that it will conduct census-taking in October this year and a general election will be held in 2025. Elections would be held in the areas under the control of the SAC and if the percentage of votes designated were cast, the Hluttaw would be called, U Kyi Myint, a Myanmar political commentator, told CNI News.

" Elections will be held in the areas under the control of the SAC. If the number of votes designated were cast or if more than half of the seats necessary for the Hluttaw were won, the Hluttaw will be called." he said.

According to the 2008 Constitution, if the elections were be able to be held to get 25 percent of the seats, it could be added to 25 percent of the seats of the Tatmadaw, and then the Hluttaw would be able to be called. In this way, they wanted to overcome the political crisis, said political parties.

While seeing U Ko Ko Gyi, leader of the Peopl's Party (PP)

the news meaning that China will support the election that will be held by the military council and help out is spreading among the diplomatic community local and abroad.

Leaders of the four parties that have got the party registration issued by the Union Election Commission (UEC) - the People's Party (PP), the Arakan Front Party (AFP), the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the Shan and Nationalities Democratic Party (SNDP) are to go to China this month.

On the other hand, Acting President of the National Unity Government (NUG) Duwa Lashila has said that the NUG would not recognize the election held by the SAC and it would destroy in order that the election could not be held.

CNI News

18 July 2024

Monetary inflation is getting worse than before and although it is necessary to make politics stable and arise a stable government, it might not be easy to emerge so at present, said economic and banking experts.

Because some private banks had some problems about housing loans a few days ago, the people were so worried that they withdrew a lot of their money from the banks. However, they could not withdraw as much as they need.

The occurrence of bank problems was because of a wrong economic system and as long as the system was correct, inflation and prices would not decrease, U Htay Aung Kyi, a banking expert, told CNI News.

"It is not easy for banks to regain the public trust. Mainly because of a wrong economic system, bank problems emerged. If the banking system recovers, the public will believe in banks. If this keeps up, another bank problem can appear. There was one lakh kyats before in the system, but when prices go up, it's necessary to have three lakh kyats now. At any rate, bank notes have been printed out. It's called currency injection to the economic system. It re-invites inflation. It's a vicious circle. The main thing is that the economic system needs to recover. Economy is related to politics. If politics is not stable, economy is not stable as well. They tried to find an answer by authority, but not by knowledge." he said.

It would be anybody's guess when a stable government would emerge. The inflation would be re-controlled only when politics is stable and there are investments. Economy is directly proportional to politics, said economic and banking experts.

People waiting in line to withdraw money in front of the CB Bank during the Covid-19 pandemic (old picture)

The Central Bank of Myanmar released its ways to control the monetary inflation on 3rd May.

Although the Central Bank has increased deposits and loans of banks, the CBM has set the minimum reserve requirement ratio for banks in Myanmar Kyat from 3.5 percent to 3.75 percent in order to control the growth of the total money supply including domestic banknote circulation and to reduce inflation.

The increase in the average rate of interest paid on surplus reserve money from 3.6 percent to 3.8 percent has started since May, said the CBM.

Banks are operating only with the public deposits and if the people do not deposit their money at banks, it might be dangerous to banks, an economic analyst told CNI News.

" To tell the truth, It's dangerous. It would be convenient only if the economic system is good. Only if the economic system is good, as a result, will the import and export systems be good. Foreign direct investments will enter. As long as politics is not good, economy will be bad. The price of dollar goes up from 3,000 until 5,000 kyats. And the price of gold has got higher and higher as well. It's still not easy to better." he said.

At present, the people can easily withdraw their money from private banks.

ATM machines have been replenished with money, which private banks have announced. However, if someone wants to withdraw over 200 lakh kyats, they have to sign and withdraw after giving the reason why reportedly.