Singapore signals shift away from hiring Myanmar workers

The government of Singapore has advised employment agencies to prioritise hiring migrant workers from other countries over Myanmar, citing travel restrictions and the ongoing state of emergency under the Myanmar junta. Singapore’s Ministry of Manpower issued the advisory on Tuesday, warning of potential challenges in recruiting Myanmar nationals. The city-state is a key destination for Myanmar migrant workers, but the advisory letter may signal a shift away from hiring them in favor of workers from other countries. This could impact Myanmar nationals seeking jobs in Singapore, according to Myanmar workers already there. "We're worried about what will happen, what new rules will be restricted,” one woman who wished to remain anonymous, told Myanmar now. “Based on this, what new things will come out? What restrictions will be imposed?" She added there are already concerns about barriers for new workers aiming to arrive in the country soon. The notice is also adding stress for existing workers in Singapore who hope to extend their employment terms. The order comes less than a year after the Myanmar junta first announced its ban on conscription-aged men from leaving the country for work. Myanmar Now spoke with a Yangon-based employment agency to assess the impact on potential workers. The agency's owner, speaking on condition of anonymity, said that sending workers abroad requires long-term negotiations and trust-building with international businesses. Sudden bans, he added, undermine that trust and make companies hesitant to recruit. "There's no stability now,” he said. “Making sudden arbitrary decisions doesn't work well. We can't do anything regarding these broken promises. It's all fallen apart, and it's not our fault. It's because of the military council. All citizens are suffering from what the military is doing.” The agency owner noted that many people had planned to sign contracts with employment agencies after January 30, shortly before the military junta implemented its travel ban on citizens under 35. Others had already secured exit permits and planned to leave before the restriction took effect.After the military coup, thousands of young people have attempted to leave to foreign countries due to the political crisis, economic collapse, but above all, mandatory conscription. The conscription law, originally enacted in 2010, but never enforced, allows the junta to draft men aged 18-35 and women aged 18-27 for up to two years of service. The move has sparked widespread fear and resistance, with many young people attempting to flee the country to avoid forced recruitment. Experts say the Myanmar military is implementing conscription to replenish its depleted ranks as it struggles to contain growing resistance from ethnic armed groups and anti-junta forces. Facing heavy losses on multiple fronts, the regime seeks to bolster troop numbers amid escalating offensives across the nation."They stopped everything abruptly with force. It wasn't done through the law, but through sheer authority,” the Yangon employment agency owner said. “When you tell this to the international community, it's laughable, they can't believe it. And the impact of this affects everyone.”

Singapore signals shift away from hiring Myanmar workers

New advisory adds pressure on workers already facing military-imposed travel bans

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