Passports for Job for migrant workers: OWIC card processes are being carried out according to the mandated law

For those who plan to work to foreign countries as skilled workers, those who are willing to work to foreign countries with work permits, permanent residence permits, business permits, those who want to return to their motherland for various reasons, those who expired and lost OWIC cards whose are the PJ (Passport for Job) type passport holders must have OWIC card to go abroad through international airport or border gates.

According to the official from the Ministry of Labor, currently at the Yangon International Airport, PJ type passports holders who do not have OWIC card are not allowed to go abroad.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labor, Nyunt Win, said " In the past, there were counterfeiting cases of the OWIC cards but at the present, the relevant departments put lots of effort to upgrade and manufacture the OWIC cards with security printing by using qualified equipments."

Regarding the issue of OWIC card, it has been notified by the relevant departments and Union ministries to take mandatory action by law and for those who are the PJ passport holders will be investigated by the relevant immigration authorities at the international entry and exit gates such as airport, border gates and shipping ports. Otherwise, for those who don’t have OWIC card will be forbidden to go abroad and will not be allowed to cross the border.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Labor, Nyunt Win, said " Regarding with OWIC card, no exemption will be granted under any circumstances. For those who is necessary to go abroad for medical treatment due to an emergency health condition can get exemption after the thorough check by immigration officers by showing the approval of relevant medical recommendations and prescriptions."

OWIC card processes are being carried out according to the Section 10 of the Foreign Employment Law of 1999.