Myanmar Migrant Workers Face New Hurdles: Embassy Recommendation Letter Mandated for Return, Sparks Concerns of Tax and Data Collection
Myanmar's interim government has introduced a new regulation requiring migrant workers abroad to obtain an embassy recommendation letter for temporary return to their home country. Labor advocacy groups criticize this as a means to collect personal data and extort taxes. The Myanmar Embassy in Thailand charges 150 baht per letter, but the complicated procedures and delays are raising concerns. This measure is feared to severely impact rural communities, including the Ayeyarwady region, which heavily rely on remittances from overseas workers.
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