Among the applicants are employment agencies. "When COVID-19 broke out, employment agencies stopped sending workers abroad but still had to pay K20 million for license fees at the end of March. These agencies have applied for loans between K30 million and K50 million to cover these fees," said U Sai Sithu from the Myanmar Oversea Employment Agencies Federation.

The funds are prioritised for agriculture and livestock breeding, fisheries, import-substitution, and food industries as well as oversea employment service providers and vocational training schools.