Irrawaddy-Aug 18
Faced with rising unemployment, restrictions on human liberties and numerous other uncertainties, many young people are leaving Myanmar in an unprecedented brain drain. “Our futures seem uncertain and we feel completely hopeless,” said a young person, speaking for many. Rising costs, as the kyat’s value tumbles, are taking a heavy toll on young people. Japan, South Korea, Dubai, Malaysia and Thailand are popular destinations as people hope to send money back to their families. “I used to earn around a million kyats a month but my income has declined. As life is becoming more difficult, I have no other choice but to leave the country,” Ko Aung Pyae said. Young Yangon residents crowded the streets before dawn on August 5 to apply for the Japanese Language Proficiency Test to study at Japanese universities or find work. Dubai and South Korea are often preferred over Japan because of the lower costs. “Life is hard in Myanmar even with a job. I want to work abroad and earn more money,” Ko Zwe Mann, 25, told The Irrawaddy. He initially planned to work in Japan but realized the language exam would take another year so he is now hoping to work in a Dubai hotel. Privileged, well-educated young men like Ko Aung Pyae and U Zwe Mann can opt for Dubai, Japan or South Korea but many others look to Thailand and Malaysia, which cost less in agents fees and require few qualifications. Meanwhile, engineers often opt for Singapore. Skilled employment opportunities are collapsing in Myanmar, the International Labor Organization reported on August 1. It estimated that 1.1 million people have lost their jobs since 2020 and it said working conditions are increasingly insecure with severe incursions on labor rights. Read more at: https://www.irrawaddy.com/authors/the-irrawaddy
