Myanmar migrant workers who returned home on leave are facing difficulties traveling back overseas due to stricter regulations imposed by the military junta’s Ministry of Labour and delays in processing Overseas Worker Identification Cards (OWIC), according to workers.
Workers said the OWIC policy, which has been increasingly restricted since the military coup, now requires those returning home to reapply for OWIC cards before they can leave Myanmar again.
Starting from May 1, workers returning home on leave must also submit additional documents if the workplace or country listed on their OWIC card differs from their current employment details.
A Mon migrant worker who returned from Malaysia on leave told IMNA that many workers have faced delays of several months due to the OWIC process, while people under the age of 35 are reportedly no longer being issued the cards.
“People applying to return overseas after coming back on leave have waited three or four months without approval. Many still cannot leave again. Those under 35 are completely blocked from getting the card. It seems they are trying to pressure people returning home and gather information about whether they oppose them politically. Workers returning from leave are facing more difficulties than those preparing to leave for the first time,” he said.
Previously, workers holding PJ passports and valid OWIC cards could freely enter and leave Myanmar. However, the military junta recently introduced a rule requiring workers to apply for permission by email before being allowed to leave the country again.
During the Thingyan holiday period, many Myanmar migrant workers reportedly returned home through VIP arrangements or illegal routes.
A Mon youth migrant worker said the military junta has been tightening regulations on overseas workers month by month, aiming not only to reduce the number of young people leaving the country for work but also to monitor individuals involved in political support activities.
“The rules change every month. Even the regulations introduced in December were already difficult. Now, before returning home, workers must submit documents to the embassy, including recommendation letters stating how long they will stay, round-trip flight tickets, copies of ID cards, and household registration documents. These measures are also intended to monitor political supporters,” he said.
On September 6, 2024, the military junta-appointed Ministry of Labour announced that overseas workers who fail to transfer 25 percent of their salaries through official banking channels would not be issued passports for overseas employment or OWIC cards.
The ministry also warned that workers attempting to leave the country illegally by pretending to be returning workers and using fake leave documents would face temporary travel bans and be placed on a blacklist.
