By Hanthar Hein - Apr 22, 2025
Some overseas employment agencies holding official licenses have begun sending workers abroad through illegal channels, according to sources within the agency community and workers currently preparing to work overseas.
Some agencies began resorting to illegal backdoor channels for deploying workers after the military council’s Ministry of Labour imposed restrictions and suspensions on the activities of both outgoing workers and licensed agencies.
“A number of licensed agencies are now using backdoor methods themselves. For example, they directly coordinate with factory owners to Thailand, send workers from here to Myawaddy, then across to Mae Sot, and from there, their contacts pick them up and deliver them directly to the factories. Initially, names are submitted for a pre-arranged list, and once confirmed, workers are sent over. The cost is over 40 lakhs kyats. Most of those sent are young men. Agencies say workers that it will take too long or that they can’t go if they fall under restrictions if they go via the official MOU system, so they convince them to use these backdoor routes,” said someone close to the agency network.
Additionally, it’s reported that some licensed agencies are sending workers to Malaysia through illegal means.
“Many workers here were left stranded since last year, when Malaysia stopped accepting foreign workers. As the Malaysian side hasn’t reopened and the Myanmar side is under various restrictions, some licensed agencies have started working with brokers to send their remaining workers to Malaysia through illegal routes. On the workers’ side, many are afraid to lose the money they have already invested, so they still go even if it’s illegal,” another source close to the agency community said.
The practice of licensed overseas employment agencies sending workers abroad illegally may increasingly deprive migrant workers of job security and labour rights, according to workers.
“Agencies often break contracts even when workers go legally. Now they’re using backdoor methods while still holding licenses, and that will only lead to more loss of workers' rights. Inexperienced people from rural areas may even mistakenly think these are legal processes. The ministry needs to thoroughly investigate licensed agencies that are using these illegal routes. And those agencies who are following proper procedures should be encouraged and supported,” said one individual currently planning to work overseas.
As of now, there has reportedly been no investigation or action taken by the military council’s Ministry of Labour regarding these illegal deployments by licensed agencies.
