Everybody who has grown up has to seek jobs for earning income not only for themselves but for their families to fulfil their daily needs. Hence, people as well as citizens from global countries including Myanmar seek jobs in their mother lands and abroad.
On the other hand, those job seekers in overseas countries have a chance to go abroad systematically, apply their technologies and experiences obtained abroad in their respective sectors at home, and enjoy deserved entitlements of labour and rights without losing anything under the arrangements of the Ministry of Labour of Myanmar.
Moreover, the ministry helps the labours contact Myanmar embassies and labour attaches whenever they face difficulties at the jobs of their workplaces in the host countries or elsewhere and apply for Overseas Worker Identification Card-OWIC.
In truth, those Myanmar workers can be defined as income seekers of the nation. As a variety of taxes levied over their incomes benefit the nation and increase the State fund, licenced overseas employment agencies need to provide necessary assistance for those Myanmar workers to pass all processes in connection with relevant departments from abroad in a smooth manner without facing any difficulties and problems.
Those agencies need to help Myanmar workers enjoy deserved entitlements and rights at their workplaces in host countries. Those agencies need to collect set service charges from the workers. If not, they will face legal action – fine or imprisonment.
Furthermore, those workers wishing to attend overseas employment courses and apply for the OWIC have to contact the Labour Department. Hence, Myanmar workers wishing to go abroad should avoid exploitation of brokers and illegal agencies in applying for attending overseas employment courses and OWIC and contact the relevant departments of the Labour Ministry as much as possible.
In sending workers abroad, the agencies and workers need to sign bilateral agreements. Moreover, the agreements on appointment must be signed in Myanmar/English and the relevant languages of the host countries. And, disciplines and provisions in the agreements must be clarified to the workers before signing the agreements.
During the period from 1 February 2021 to 28 February 2023, overseas employment agencies arranged to send Myanmar workers abroad. Some other workers who temporarily returned home after taking leaves and some PR holders as well as new workers sent by agencies, totalling 216,000 with OWIC went to 82 countries. In this regard, more than 120,000 workers left for Thailand, more than 24,000 for Singapore, over 8,000 for Korea, more than 15,500 for Japan and more than 39,900 for Malaysia.
Furthermore, those workers wishing to attend overseas employment courses and apply for the OWIC have to contact the Labour Department. Hence, Myanmar workers wishing to go abroad should avoid exploitation of brokers and illegal agencies in applying for attending overseas employment courses and OWIC and contact the relevant departments of the Labour Ministry as much as possible.
