To address military conscription evasion, Myanmar’s junta has enacted a ban on issuing seafarers’ work permits for individuals over 25, effective July 1. This prohibition affects essential employment documents, including the seafarer’s registration and the Seafarer Identification and Record Book.
A Yangon-based employment agency representative noted that the junta-controlled Department of Marine Administration is rejecting all applicants above this age for seafaring training programs. Many individuals often switch careers and begin working on ships in their late twenties, frequently lacking prior experience.
Those aged 27 or 28 who are already in training will be allowed to continue, as they need to complete an English proficiency test. This policy change has raised concerns among potential applicants, as it limits opportunities for older individuals seeking to enter the seafaring industry.
