By Hanthar Hein - May 20, 2025
Licensed agencies report that male workers aged 18 to 35 who signed EC (Employment Contracts) for overseas employment are now facing uncertainty about their ability to depart, and some agencies are preparing to partially refund service fees.
In January 2025, the Ministry of Labour suspended the overseas employment of men within the 18–35 age range, and even those who had already signed EC contracts are now being denied exit approval.
Due to this restriction, the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Association (MOEAA), along with licensed recruitment agencies, submitted a joint appeal to the Ministry of Labour on April 30, requesting that contract-holding workers be allowed to leave.
“There’s been no official response from the Ministry yet. Meanwhile, workers who signed contracts months ago are starting to pressure us. So, we are preparing to refund part of the service fees in a way that both sides can agree to if there’s no resolution by the end of this month,” said a representative of a licensed agency that sends workers to Thailand.
Workers say they are suffering more than agencies due to the abrupt ban on oversea employment without prior notice.
“I signed a contract to go to Thailand over four months ago. Now the agency called me and said if the situation doesn't change after the 25th day of this month, I can come to take a refund. But they also said I won’t get the full amount back since they had operational expenses. I understand their side, but I loaned money with interest to go abroad. I had to pay interests and now my life is falling apart,” said one affected worker.
Currently, the SAC’s Ministry of Labour is implementing various restrictions on overseas employment. Men within the age limit are not being allowed to leave, and even those outside the limit—as well as female workers—are being approved in only small numbers.
