Myanmar will start sending workers to Russia in April, according to overseas employment agencies.
The two regimes have been working on a memorandum of understanding to employ Myanmar workers in Russia’s manufacturing, construction, and agriculture and livestock sectors.
The first batch of around 10,000 workers will be employed on construction sites.
Three years into its invasion of Ukraine, Russia is facing a massive economic crisis with severe labor shortages and currently needs some 400,000 workers.
On Feb. 24, Labor Minister Chit Swe, his deputy Win Shein, and company directors met with labor agencies. “Myanmar and Russia have signed several MoUs,” a member of Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation said. “One of them is to send workers to Russia.”
Four employment agencies said they have received job offers from Russian companies. Workers will not have to pay agency fees or other costs to go there.
“We’re making preparations to send skilled workers,” a staffer at one agency said. “The MoU will be signed afterward, and then the Russian companies and our agencies will sign the contracts, which we’ll have to submit to the Labor Ministry for approval.”
Russian salaries for foreign workers are about US$500 per month in farming and about $1,300 on construction sites.
Even given the nosediving ruble, that is substantially better than the minimum wage in Myanmar of 6,800 kyats per day or a little over $40 a month at the official exchange rate.
But the regime bars men aged between 23 and 35 from working abroad as it enforces the conscription law to replenish its depleted army.
Russia, with its harsh winters, is likely to be terra incognita to most workers who make the trek.
“Some are interested because they don’t want to live in Myanmar,” said an employment agent. “They’re willing to go anywhere. But the [junta’s] policy about sending migrant workers is unpredictable.”
On Feb. 14 the regime suspended issuing overseas worker identity cards, a type of document issued by the Labor Ministry to those approved to work abroad.
Bilateral relations between Russia and Myanmar have blossomed beyond the arms trade and military training since the 2021 coup and the two regimes now cooperate in various sectors. Junta boss Min Aung Hlaing left for Moscow on Monday to pay an official goodwill visit to President Vladimir Putin.
