By the end of June the National Unity Government (NUG) should have started compiling a list of Myanmar migrant workers abroad and will begin issuing identification cards.

According to the NUG’s Ministry of Labor Deputy Minister, U Kyaw Ni, the census is aimed at compiling a list of migrant workers that can be used in the planning of national projects and to issue Overseas Employment Registration Cards (OERC).

He said to Mizzima: “An exact list of Myanmar people working abroad will be compiled. The census is being taken [to help] for long-term and short-term projects. The census is expected to begin at the end of this month [June 2022].”

Currently, according to the 1999 Foreign Employment Law the Ministry of Labour (MoL - now under the junta) has been issuing migrant workers an Overseas Workers Identification Card (OWIC) that is valid for five years.

According to the junta MoL, workers will only be allowed to work abroad or travel through international airports and land borders if they hold an OWIC.

The NUG government said that its OERC will eventually replace the OWIC when the NUG comes to power.

But, since the NUG announced the OERC the junta MoL made an announcement saying that anyone found applying for an OERC or in possession of an OERC will be blacklisted from entering or leaving the country. Also, action will be taken against the under the Counter-Terrorism Law and existing laws and regulations.

Because of these restrictions the NUG said that people who register with them as migrant workers do not yet need to take an OERC card.

U Kyaw Ni said: “People can choose whether or not to receive the cards. Those who are registered will get the cards; but they can decide not to take them.”

About 10 per cent of the Myanmar population is working abroad. Many migrant workers from Myanmar work in Thailand, both legally and illegally.

Since the coup Myanmar migrant workers have faced increased problems, including difficulties with passport extensions and labour card applications.

Oo Aung Kyaw, the Chairman of Migrant Workers' Rights Network, said: “Following the coup, some people found themselves in legal difficulties after their passports had expired. There are issues with passport documentation, and people must pay extra to extend their applications.”