Singapore, a top destination for migrants from Myanmar, urged employment agencies on Tuesday to look elsewhere for staff, citing armed conflicts and conscription in Myanmar.
Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower singled out Myanmar and told recruiters to monitor the situation in foreign countries. It said they “may wish to recruit workers from a wider mix of approved countries for business”.
“Myanmar has been in a state of emergency and an increasing number of townships are still under martial law. There have also been reports of travel restrictions in Myanmar,” it said.
The regime in late January banned conscription-age citizens from leaving Myanmar without an exemption from the central conscription body.
The regime in February last year activated the long-dormant Conscription Law, requiring men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 to serve in the military for a minimum of two years. The law triggered the mass exodus.
January’s rule applies to those who have been called up or are appealing against a call-up. Draft dodgers face up to three years in jail.
A manager of an overseas employment agency in Myanmar said: “The ban on people under 35 has affected everyone looking to work in Singapore. The ban also affects our businesses working with international companies. It harms the country’s image.”
Migrants who have been offered work have failed to reach Singapore in time due to the travel restrictions, he said.
A migrant in Singapore said: “Employment agencies may recruit more from other countries due to travel restrictions in Myanmar. It might be harder for us to get work, depending on the type of job.”
Migrants from Myanmar mostly work in construction, housekeeping, elderly care, cleaning and restaurants. There is no bilateral labor agreement between Myanmar and the Lion City.
Singapore is a popular destination to study and migrants work in the city-state as engineers, IT technicians and medics.
A migrant in Singapore said: “I am sorry for young people who want self-development. They have fewer opportunities now.”
Singapore is estimated to have more than 200,000 migrant workers from Myanmar.
Myanmar’s Embassy in Singapore announced on Monday that 278 citizens have become Singaporean nationals.
