Fearing conscription, workers in Yangon from other parts of Myanmar have returned to their hometowns causing labour shortages.
The exodus started after the announcement of the Conscription Law on 10 February 2024. A representative of a workers’ union estimated that Yangon has now lost a third of its workforce and is potentially facing a significant labour shortage.
A distributor of drinking water in Yangon said: “As everyone is heading back home, my business has come to a halt. I am gathering all our water bottles and informing our customers that we will be temporarily suspending operations until further notice, as our delivery personnel are also returning to their hometowns.”
Other people fear leaving their houses because they worry that they will be forcibly conscripted into the army if they go out. This means people are not going out to work or study. There has also been a big drop in the number of people applying for training courses in Yangon.
This follows social media reports of people going missing, being forced to work as porters and being abducted after being spiked with sedatives.
A woman who is studying Japanese in Yangon said: “I’m so afraid of being drugged and abducted for forced labour by the military council that I don’t dare to attend lessons anymore. Even though I initially participated, the attendance dropped drastically within just a day or two of the law being enacted. Now, I’m only studying at home.”
Another woman working in Yangon said: “I used to socialize with friends, even when I was running late from work. Now, I’m constantly anxious during my commute. I keep checking the time to ensure I know when it’s safe to head home. There’s no sense of security in this country. Honestly, I really want to relocate abroad.”
According to a resident of Yangon’s South Dagon Township junta troops in the area are carrying out frequent inspections of the overnight guest lists, in which residents have to record the names and details of anyone staying at their home who is not a registered household member.
They said: “Recently, the scrutiny of overnight guests has intensified compared to before. The administrative office is busy with personnel verifying guest lists for the night. They resort to physical violence without hesitation during these checks, even if complaints are lodged. Failure to comply with reporting requirements may result in arrest, leaving us uncertain about what the next day holds.”
He added that during surprise inspections, junta troops even resorted to slapping men who made eye contact with them.
Under the Conscription Law, men aged between 18 and 35 and women aged between 18 and 27 are mandated to serve in the military, along with professional men aged between 18 and 45 and professional women aged between 18 and 35.
