By Hanthar Hein - Jan 31, 2025
It has been learned from licensed agencies that the Ministry of Labour has resumed allowing male workers aged 18 to 35, who have signed contracts, to go abroad for work.
Previously, the age restriction for male workers seeking overseas employment was set between 23 and 31 years old. However, it was revised to 18 to 35 years old, and the process of sending workers abroad was temporarily halted on January 30. As a result, licensed agencies requested the Ministry of Labour to permit those who had already signed contracts to be sent abroad.
“A sudden suspension without prior notice yesterday caused significant problems for the agencies. That’s why we requested the Ministry of Labour to allow those who had already signed contracts to be sent abroad. Today, they responded by stating that workers who had signed contracts by January 30 could proceed with the process at the labour office and obtain their OWIC cards,” said a responsible person from a licensed agency.
Although male workers aged 18 to 35 who had signed contracts are now allowed to leave until January 30, those who have been officially listed for military conscription will not be permitted to depart from the airport.
“There is still concern even though the permission to send contract-signed workers abroad has resumed until January 30. They won’t be allowed to leave if their names are on the military conscription list at the airport. In that case, both the workers and the agencies will face losses. The truth is, the Ministry of Labour initially suspended everything, and only after agencies requested, they reopened the process until January 30 for those who had already signed contracts. It seems like they are just allowing this with a ‘proceed at your own risk’ approach if issues arise at the airport,” said a source close to the agency network.
Currently, the Ministry of Labour has only granted permission for male workers aged 18 to 35 who had signed contracts with the labour office before January 30 to go abroad for work. The remaining male workers aged 18 to 35 are still temporarily restricted from seeking overseas employment.
It has also been learned that female workers are not subject to age restrictions and are still permitted to go abroad for work as usual.
