The seminar was held in Myanmar for the first time, focusing on Myanmar’s efforts to deal with the cross-border trade in people, the modern equivalent of the slave trade.

According to the “Trafficking in Persons Report 2014” issued by the U.S. State Department's Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons, which organized the seminar, Myanmar remains at the Tier 2 level indicating more needs to be done to tackle the problem.

Police Lt-Col Ohnmar Yin Mie, General Staff Officer (Grade-I) of the Anti-Human Trafficking Police Corps (Central) told the seminar, “The people, human trafficking victims and government departments must cooperate in combating human traffickers so as not to degrade Myanmar’s existing placement [Tier 2 ranking].”

“The Anti-Human Trafficking Police Corps is checking overseas employment agencies to make sure they are not involved in illegal overseas employment,” she said.

The police officer added that Myanmar will set up the squad to work with ASEAN countries and the U.S. She said the squad would consist of officials from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Supreme Court, the Office of Attorney-General, the Ministry of Labour, and her unit.

Myanmar’s position improved slightly from Tier 3 from 2001 to 2011 to Tier 2 in 2012.

Fears have been voiced that if there is no progress with combating trafficking this year, Myanmar may slip back to Tier 3 in 2015. Such a placement could lead to economic sanctions by the international community and limits on assistance and humanitarian aid by world monetary organizations.

Myanmar continues to founder due to the large number of workers illegally trafficked and problems with Myanmar women offered in marriage in China, Thailand and other neighbouring countries, according to the report of Myanmar’s anti-human trafficking five-year plan.

Myanmar publicised 85 cases of human trafficking from January to September 2014.