The regime in Naypyidaw’s Department of Labor has denied exit clearance to over 1,000 migrant workers attempting to return to their overseas jobs, sparking widespread allegations of state-sponsored extortion and bureaucratic overreach.
The affected individuals, all holders of the mandatory Overseas Worker Identification Card (OWIC), had returned to Myanmar for home leave between April and May. Upon attempting to depart, they were barred from leaving the country.
The 25 per cent remittance rule
While the Department of Labor officially cited “insufficient personal information” and a lack of required documentation as the reason for the mass denials, industry insiders point to a more financially driven motive.
According to an anonymous OWIC service provider who assists migrant workers, the rejections stem primarily from the regime’s desperate bid to capture foreign currency.
Workers are being blocked for failing to provide concrete evidence that they transferred 25 per cent of their overseas salary back to Myanmar through regime-approved official banks.
Furthermore, workers are being penalized for failing to produce newly mandated endorsement letters issued by the relevant embassies of their host countries.
A lucrative extortion racket
The stringent and abruptly enforced requirements have left many workers stranded and desperate, creating a highly lucrative environment for corrupt officials.
Migrant workers whose applications were rejected report being forced to pay exorbitant bribes to immigration officers to bypass the restrictions and salvage their livelihoods.
According to workers who spoke to DVB, officials are currently demanding bribes ranging from 3 million MMK ($700 USD) up to 10 million MMK ($2,336 USD) to facilitate their departure.
For many blue-collar workers, these extortion demands are insurmountable, leading to severe delays, financial ruin, and the total loss of their overseas employment opportunities.
Deepening state control
The ongoing crisis highlights the regime’s tightening grip on the movement of its citizens:
- The OWIC Mandate: Under the 1999 Foreign Employment Law, any Myanmar citizen working abroad must hold a valid OWIC. The card, which carries a five-year term, functions as a detailed, centralized registry of the worker’s personal data and employment history, closely monitored by the Ministry of Labor.
- The May 1 Directive: The recent wave of denials is heavily tied to a stringent new measure enacted on May 1. The regime now dictates that any migrant worker returning to Myanmar on leave must obtain formal permission letters from both their foreign employer and the embassy of their host country before departing.
While the regime claims these policies are designed to “ensure safe migration” and “prevent human trafficking,” labor advocates and returning workers argue they are transparent mechanisms designed to restrict freedom of movement, track citizens abroad, and forcibly seize a significant portion of their hard-earned foreign wages.
