Myanmar implements National Service Law

25 March 2025

On 23 January 2025, the Myanmar Ministry of Defence issued Notification No. 2/2025, implementing the National Service Law (“Law”) which was initially drafted in 2010 and came into force on 10 February 2024. The Law mandates military service for male Myanmar citizens aged 18 to 35 and female citizens aged 18 to 27. However, exemptions apply to married women and women with children, as well as to individuals with permanent disabilities or members of religious orders. 

The Law has implications for private companies who are required to, inter alia, continue to pay the wages of its employees who have been called up for national service. In addition, employees must be reappointed to their previous role or a similar role upon their return from national service.