More companies are considering hiring Myanmar talent through the Specified Skilled Worker and Technical Intern Training programs. Myanmar is known as a pro-Japan country with many people highly motivated to learn Japanese, yet its distinctive culture rooted in Theravada Buddhism differs greatly from other sending countries. To avoid post-hire surprises, understanding that cultural background is essential. This article explains the culture, religion, and communication traits you should know before hiring people from Myanmar.

Hiring Myanmar Talent ①: Why Attention Is Growing Now

Several factors explain why Myanmar talent is drawing attention as a hiring option. Understanding that this is not only about labor shortages, but also about strengths unique to Myanmar talent, will make it easier to set a clear hiring policy.

A sharp rise in people seeking work in Japan since 2021

Since the coup in February 2021, Myanmar’s domestic political and economic situation has become highly unstable. Behind the growing number of Myanmar people aiming for Japan in search of stable employment is a high regard for Japan’s technical capabilities and living environment. The pool of people hoping to come to Japan has tended to deepen year by year.

On the Japanese side as well, serious labor shortages continue, especially in nursing care and manufacturing, and more organizations are treating Myanmar as an important new sending country. In other words, conditions are favorable for both the sending and accepting sides.

Motivation to learn Japanese is high even compared with other countries

It is not uncommon to hear from companies that have hired Myanmar talent that they “improve their Japanese quickly” or “take learning seriously.” In Myanmar, many people pass the JLPT at N4 or N3 before traveling to Japan.

Myanmar (Burmese) shares the same SOV (subject–object–verb) word order as Japanese, and is said to make Japanese grammar easier to absorb than for talent from English-speaking backgrounds. In addition, an educational culture of faithfully following a teacher’s instruction means many people approach language study with persistence.

Institutional frameworks are advancing as a Specified Skilled Worker sending country

Memoranda of cooperation on the Technical Intern Training and Specified Skilled Worker programs have been exchanged between the governments of Myanmar and Japan, and progress continues on certifying sending organizations and making procedures more transparent. An environment in which companies can hire with greater confidence is steadily taking shape.

That said, the quality of sending organizations does vary. It is important to work with a trustworthy supervising organization or Registered Support Organization and confirm their track record before proceeding with hiring. For more on status of residence application procedures, see also the article “What You Need to Act as an Agent for a Foreign National’s Status of Residence Application.”

Hiring Myanmar Talent ②: Culture and Religion You Need to Understand

Understanding culture and religion is essential to building good relationships with Myanmar talent. Theravada Buddhism, practiced by about 90% of the population, is deeply rooted in daily life and also shapes behavior at work.

Theravada Buddhism is woven into everyday life

Theravada Buddhism in Myanmar differs greatly in character from Buddhism in Japan. In Japan, many people may think of Buddhism mainly at weddings, funerals, and similar ceremonies. In Myanmar, however, visiting temples regularly and offering meals to monks—dāna (giving)—is part of daily life.

That is because the idea of “accumulating merit” sits at the core of how many Myanmar people act. Many believe good deeds positively affect the next life, and it is not unusual to see them spontaneously help a colleague in need or take the lead in cleaning the workplace. Understanding these values helps you appreciate the sincerity of Myanmar talent more deeply.

Taboos around the head and the left hand are strictly observed at work too

In Myanmar culture, the head is considered the most sacred part of the body. Even if meant affectionately, touching someone’s head is a serious breach of etiquette and must be avoided.

There is also a cultural view that the left hand is impure, so when handing over documents or objects it is best to use the right hand or both hands. At meals, handling food with the left hand alone is considered poor manners. These taboos are rooted in religious teaching and should not be dismissed as “old customs.”

Day-of-the-week astrology, thanaka, and longyi

Myanmar has a culture of “eight-day astrology,” in which personality and fortune are believed to be shaped by the day of the week on which a person was born. This belief is so embedded in daily life that it even influences how names are given.

Natural cosmetic “thanaka” and the wraparound skirt “longyi” are also symbols of ethnic identity. Many people continue using them after arriving in Japan. Treating these not as “unusual habits” but as cultural background to be respected helps build trust.

Hiring Myanmar Talent ③: Personality and Communication Traits

Japanese employees working alongside Myanmar colleagues may sometimes feel unsure about how to communicate. Much of that uncertainty, however, can be resolved by understanding the cultural background.

The rules of emotional expression behind a “culture that does not show anger”

In Myanmar society, openly showing anger is considered highly shameful. In Theravada Buddhist teaching, anger (dosa in Pali) is one of the “three poisons” and an emotion to be overcome. As a result, people tend to avoid expressing dissatisfaction directly even when they feel it.

Not showing emotion outwardly does not mean there is no dissatisfaction. When issues build up, some people suddenly resign, so it is important to hold regular one-on-ones and carefully draw out concerns. Asking “Is anything wrong?” often draws “I’m fine,” so more concrete questions such as “What have you found difficult in your recent work?” tend to work better.

A reserved manner is an expression of respect

In Myanmar, taking a reserved attitude toward seniors is considered proper etiquette. Not speaking up actively in meetings or quickly answering “yes” to a supervisor’s instructions may look overly passive. In Myanmar culture, however, this is how respect is shown and is separate from the person’s motivation.

Myanmar has a system of honorific language; toward elders, people use humble first-person forms such as “kyun-naw” (ကျွန်တော်, male) and “kyun-ma” (ကျွန်မ, female). This linguistic structure also shows how deeply hierarchical relationships are valued. Of course, Japanese workplaces also expect people to share their own views, so clearly indicating “situations where it is fine to speak without holding back” helps create a sense of security.

Team evaluation resonates more than individual evaluation

Myanmar society values bonds of family and community. There is a tendency to prioritize group harmony over individual results, which shares common ground with Japan’s idea of “harmony is to be valued.”

For that reason, performance reviews are more effective when they include mechanisms that recognize contribution to the team and cooperativeness. Framing feedback as “Thanks to you, the whole team went well” is said to be more motivating. That does not mean individual effort can be overlooked, so it is best to balance team-based evaluation with personal appreciation.

Hiring Myanmar Talent ④: Raising Retention with a “Buddhist Calendar Consideration” Mindset

One often-overlooked factor in raising retention of Myanmar talent is consideration for religious observances. Beyond program rules and pay conditions, the sense that “my faith is respected” frequently has a major impact on long-term motivation to stay.

Consideration for Buddhist observances is one of the strongest retention measures

The Myanmar Buddhist calendar includes several important observances unfamiliar in Japan. For example, the mid-April water festival “Thingyan” (သင်္ကြန်) is Myanmar New Year and one of the most important events of the year. Offerings to monks during the rains retreat (Waso) are also essential religious acts for the devout.

Encouraging paid leave around these times or accommodating temple visits provides significant peace of mind. Some people prefer vegetarian-style meals on full-moon days, so offering meat-free options in the company cafeteria may be appreciated. For religious dietary considerations, articles on halal accommodation for Indonesian employees and dietary restrictions for Nepalese employees may also be useful.

A reputation as a “company that understands religion” feeds directly into hiring

Myanmar communities in Japan maintain tight networks, and a reputation that “that company understands Buddhist observances” is said to spread readily by word of mouth.

At the same time, negative information about companies that show little consideration also tends to be shared easily. In other words, religious consideration is a measure that affects not only retention of current employees but also future hiring branding. A good starting point is to learn the timing of major Myanmar Buddhist observances and reflect them on the internal calendar.

Conclusion

Myanmar talent—with a calm, sincere character rooted in Theravada Buddhism and strong motivation to learn Japanese—can be a reliable partner for Japanese companies. From basic taboo awareness to considering leave systems aligned with the Buddhist calendar, understanding cultural background will shape retention.

Treating differences in culture and religion not as barriers but as opportunities for mutual understanding makes the whole workplace richer. Companies considering hiring Myanmar talent are encouraged to start by sharing the cultural points in this article internally.

Practical points to confirm before moving to hiring

After understanding culture, religion, and values, confirming hiring conditions and cost design early will also help things go smoothly.

When hiring under Specified Skilled Worker, review the hiring process and acceptance costs, and if you outsource support, also compare how to choose a Registered Support Organization.