Fraudulent agencies recruiting workers for Japan via border routes require stricter scrutiny
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Hsu/Pearl (NP News) - Sep 24
Unregulated training schools are increasingly committing fraud by promising to send workers to Japan through border routes, according to overseas employment agency operators who are now calling for stricter scrutiny and action.
Only 15 workers are allowed for each demand letter to Japan, yet many of the letters re-approved by the relevant ministry contain contracts that have already been canceled by Japanese employers. Similarly, other demand letters are impossible to process because their entry permits have expired, even though the contracts haven't been officially canceled.
“When we reviewed the canceled lists, we found over 3,000 cases. Some demand letters are still pending. The ministry issues approval orders sequentially, but some cases cannot move forward, while others have expired without extensions despite valid contracts. Since the entry permits have expired, visas cannot be issued. These demand letters remain in the system but are unusable. There are tens of thousands of similar cases. Some demand letters were canceled and refunds were issued, yet they still appear among the approved ones, preventing further action. To address this, we compiled the lists and sent them to Naypyitaw. However, such cases are still included among the current approvals, causing ongoing issues. This is why agencies are being forced to suspend their operations,” an overseas employment agency operator told The Statesman.
Since May 2025, there have been no updates on submitted demand letters, and many from 2024 also remain unprocessed.
As many agencies suspend their operations due to complications, a growing number of private Japanese training schools are exploiting the situation. These schools are committing fraud by collecting fees from young applicants with false promises of sending them to Japan quickly via border routes, and without requiring a Smart Card or OWIC card. This rise in fraud highlights the urgent need for effective inspections and action.
“There are many such private schools. They tell students that Smart Cards or OWIC cards are unnecessary and promise a quick departure to Japan via border routes. Some students who had already passed agency interviews, signed contracts, and paid deposits canceled them to attend these schools instead, with some ultimately being scammed. When students complain, the schools claim the entry permit is not yet approved or the agency hasn’t started the process. Many of these schools collect large sums from students—sometimes five, six, or even 10 million kyats—without delivering on their promises. Contracts are signed, but refunds are never given. While some schools collaborate with agencies, many accept money without the agencies’ knowledge. As a result, students are left waiting while their money is held. These schools must be strictly monitored and action taken. If the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation coordinates with agencies to compile an official list of schools and enforces stricter regulations, it will help reduce the number of young people falling victim to fraud,” the agency operator added.