Ministries, organizations ease age limit in recruitment of graduate youths for relevant positions

Chairman of the Union Civil Service Board U Tin Maung Win responded to the discussions of Hluttaw representatives at the 13th-day meeting of the Amyotha Hluttaw in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
At the Hluttaw session, six Amyotha Hluttaw representatives discussed the motion tabled by U Yan Naing Oo from the Yangon Region Constituency 9, urging the government to relax the requirements governing the recruitment of graduates from universities across the Republic of the Union of Myanmar by Union ministries, including the prescribed eligibility criteria and the application process for government employment for the future of the State and youth.
UCSB Chairman U Tin Maung Win responded that, about the confirmation of a civil servant in an established position, Rule (d) of the Civil Service Rules stipulates only that “a civil servant must have attained the age of 18 years,” thereby prescribing only the minimum age for initial appointment as a civil servant, and does not provide for any other age restrictions.
In recruiting new civil servants, the respective ministries and organizations determine educational qualifications, age limits, and other requirements based on their operational needs and the nature of the work. These criteria are formulated after taking into consideration the specific post to be filled, the nature of the duties, and the requirements of the position. The prescribed educational qualifications, age limits, and other requirements are then included in vacancy announcements, which are published transparently in State-owned newspapers at least one month in advance.
In the past, UCSB conducted recruitment for entry-level gazetted officer positions twice a year by inviting applications once every six months and carrying out the selection process accordingly. Beginning with the 2026-2027 financial year, however, recruitment advertisements will be issued once every four months, increasing the number of recruitment rounds to as many as three per year.
For the appointment of external applicants to entry-level gazetted officer positions, UCSB conducts competitive recruitment in accordance with the Civil Service Law and the Civil Service Rules. The selection process includes a written examination, psychological assessment, and interview, after which qualified candidates are selected and appointed by the relevant ministries and organizations.
The ministries and organizations have also included in their recruitment announcements that individuals who have duly completed their public military service and obtained Form (12) are eligible to apply, provided they meet the prescribed requirements. The announcements also show that the maximum age limit for applicants has been increased by three years above the standard recruitment age limit. In addition, the relevant ministries and organizations have, from time to time, set varying upper age limits of 30, 35, 38, and 40 years when recruiting personnel each year, depending on recruitment needs.
According to the age limits stated in recruitment announcements, ministries and organizations have, in consideration of improving employment opportunities for young people following the COVID-19 pandemic, been easing age restrictions when selecting and appointing external candidates as new staff.
As a result, even if some of the graduate and educated young people proposed by Hluttaw representatives have exceeded the age limit by around one or two years due to various circumstances such as regional conditions or pandemic-related restrictions, the existing policy already broadly accommodates such cases.
In this regard, the principle of relaxing age limits for the recruitment of graduate-level educated youth has been applied with a view to the long-term interests of both the State and young people.
Youth with disabilities who hold degrees are entitled to the same opportunities as other young applicants to take written examinations for vacant posts. If they pass the written examination, they are further entitled to psychological assessments and interviews on an equal basis with other candidates.
Persons with disabilities who hold degrees may be appointed as civil servants if they meet the prescribed qualifications based on the nature of the duties of the respective vacant posts announced by the relevant ministries and organizations, and if they are selected by the competent selection committee.
Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation U Bo Bo Kyaw replied to the queries raised by U Khin Maung Myint from the Shan State Constituency 7, stating that to reduce and alleviate flooding in the rainy season in Ward Uttantar Wards 1 and 2 and Zawgyi Ward in Yaksawk Township, three necessary works have been identified for implementation. These projects will be submitted for inclusion in the 2027-2028 FY State budget, and implementation will be carried out according to priority based on the availability of funds. If technical requirements arise, coordination will be made in consultation with the Ministry of Transport’s comments and relevant approvals.
U Yan Naing Win from the Ayeyawady Region Constituency 1 asked about the plan to upgrade the earthen Wetla-Setkwin-Athoke road to a gravel or asphalt/concrete one in Yekyi Township. Union Minister for Construction U Myo Thant replied that the two miles and four furlongs section out of a five-mile-long earthen road will be paved with gravel from Wetla Village to the Pathein-Monywa road junction in 2027-28 FY with the Ayeyawady Region government fund.
The Union minister also answered the question of the same representative, stating that the seven miles and five furlongs long section of the over 18 miles long Kyonpyaw-Kyaunggon-Myaungmya-Labutta road will be improved in the 2027-28 FY with the financial allocation of the regional government.
He also replied to the question of the same representative, saying that it is necessary to upgrade a three miles long gravel section and six miles and six furlongs long hard road section on the Thaunggyi-Daikpyet road in Kyonpyaw Township in Ayeyawady Region with the funds of the regional government.

The Amyotha Hluttaw will continue the 14th-day session on 8 July. — MNA/TTA