A total of 27,330 Myanmar workers has officially taken overseas jobs in eight countries, according to the figures released by the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.
The majority of them went to Thailand, registering over 22,300 workers. Malaysia has employed over 4,100 Myanmar workers. Additionally, 698 of them went to Japan while 58 workers were employed in the Republic of Korea. Some were sent to Singapore, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Jordan and Qatar.
Low employment rate and low salaries in the domestic market have forced young workers in Myanmar to seek jobs overseas, with the number of migrant labourers touching more than 5 million, said an official from the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, and Population.
“Young people are struggling to find jobs in the domestic market. Fewer job opportunities and low paid jobs are making them leave their home country for higher-paying jobs overseas. There is an economic disadvantage from the loss of young workers,” he said.
However, a total of 26,917 local job-seekers has also taken up domestic jobs in the respective states and regions. Yangon receives 17,100 employees, followed by Bago Region with 3,136 and Mandalay Region with 1,658. Over 1,200 local people were employed in Ayeyawady Region and 819 jobs are newly created in Shan State and 765, in Sagaing Region. Meanwhile, the remaining regions and states saw an influx of less than 500 new employees.
The ministry is making concerted efforts to create more employment opportunities for both domestic and overseas job hunters through online labour exchange management system. — Ko Khant (Translated by Ei Myat Mon)
