Myanmar migrant workers face jobs shortage in Malaysia

By Admin 21 Oct 2025

DMG Newsroom

21 October 2025, Mrauk-U
 
Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia are reportedly facing a shortage of jobs and violations of labour rights.
 
Myanmar nationals are said to be facing challenges finding jobs due to the increasing number of people entering Malaysia through illegal channels.
 
“In the past, if you didn’t like your job because of low pay or other reasons, you could easily change to another job. Now, there are absolutely no jobs. There are many people who have no work, no income, and can only eat half an egg,” said a young Arakanese man in Malaysia.
 
There is a growing pool of illegal Myanmar migrant workers who are unemployed and without income, often stranded at the homes of acquaintances and brokers.
 
Since the military service law was enacted in Myanmar in February of last year, a large number of young people have been pouring into Malaysia, causing job shortages and crises even for those who were previously working legally.
 
Illegal Myanmar migrant workers face threats, including exploitative wages, labour rights violations, and employers taking advantage of Myanmar’s political instability.
 
“There are many cases where businessmen take advantage of Myanmar migrant workers by saying that if they don’t want to work there, that there are many other people who are willing to work for a small salary. In Malaysia, illegal workers are more oppressed,” said another young man from Arakan State.
 
The Malaysian government has set the basic salary for migrant workers at RM1,700 (US$402) per month, but many Myanmar workers are working for only around RM1,200.
 
Despite violations of labour rights, illegal workers often remain with abusive employers due to fear of being arrested by Malaysian authorities, and fear of being stranded without work or income.
 
In some cases, the Malaysian government has handed over arrested illegal Myanmar workers to Myanmar’s military regime, with many reasonably fearing that they will be conscripted if returned to Myanmar.
 
“We had to make a choice and risk our lives to reach Malaysia,” said a man from Sagaing Region who works for a social welfare organisation. “We are stranded here with no work, no income, and are worried about being arrested. We hope the Malaysian government will show humanity and consider this situation.”
 
According to Malaysian government statements, 34,287 foreign nationals were arrested from January to May 13, 2025, the majority of whom were Myanmar nationals.
 
According to the World Bank’s Myanmar Economic Monitor report released in December 2024, there were approximately 800,000 legal and illegal Myanmar migrant workers in Malaysia, a figure that has grown since then.
 
The United Nations Development Programme reported on August 12 that four out of 10 young people in Myanmar would like to leave the country if given the opportunity due to the country’s economic collapse and military conscription laws.