Women replacing men in Myanmar water delivery jobs due to military conscription

Mizzima

Residents report that forced military recruitment and arrests are taking place day and night, extending deep into neighbourhoods and streets in Sagaing, Sagaing Region. Consequently, women are stepping in to replace men in drinking water delivery jobs, which were previously performed by men, according to local sources.

A local source from Sagaing stated that conscription has intensified since early June, with arrests escalating this month, potentially resulting in over 40 men being taken in the past two months. This figure is based on data gathered within their reach, and the actual number on the ground could be much higher. Mizzima is still independently investigating the exact numbers.

As a result, men no longer dare to work in local urban services, goods delivery, and carrying 20-litre drinking water bottles, the source told Mizzima.

“It is extremely brutal. They are snatching people right from the city’s neighbourhoods. No one dares to go out day or night. For example, water delivery is a physically demanding job where guys usually have to carry the bottles, but now only girls are doing the deliveries. They don’t dare to go from street to street; they only dare to work inside factories and workshops,” the source said.

During these forced recruitments (locally referred to as ‘porter sweeps’), the majority of those arrested are young men aged between 18 and 20, with those around 30 years old being the second most targeted age group.