Junta extorts money from oversea workers: Threatens their passport validity

October 27, 2023

HURFOM: On October 16, 2023, the military junta announced that Burmese overseas workers must show a recommendation letter from the Internal Revenue Department of the Ministry of Planning and Finance to prove they have paid their income tax before extending their passport validity.

The statement is intended for two types of passports – the passport for job (PJ) and the passport for seaman (PS).

The military junta has tried to collect income tax from overseas workers and pressured them to transfer 25% of their income to domestic banks under their control.

“The junta has used various ways to extort money from oversea workers. Now, they’ve threatened us with our passports and it’s inevitable for overseas workers in Singapore. We can’t overstay here,” said a Burmese overseas worker in Singapore.

If an overseas worker fails to prove he/she has already paid their income tax, the junta threatens that they will not extend their passport validity.

“If we have to pay income tax and transfer 25% of our wages, we have nothing left. We had to spend millions of MMK to work in Singapore. Now, many people have come to work in Singapore so it isn’t okay like before. It’s difficult to get a job and we don’t have “overtime”,” said one overseas worker.

The military junta has instructed that Burmese overseas workers that they must pay their income tax after October 1, 2023.

“We have to overcome many challenges to work abroad. The junta doesn’t show any mercy and tries to get our hard-earned money. It’s totally unfair,” said an overseas worker.

Written by HURFOM · Filed Under News