The Social Welfare Board launched the pilot project for workplace injury insurance pilot scheme in Yangon and Mandalay Region

The Social Welfare Board is conducting a workplace injury insurance pilot scheme in Hlaing Tharyar township, Yangon and Pyigyitagun township, Mandalay.

The aim of the project, which started June 1, is to help employees who are at risk of occupational injuries apply for and enjoy insurance coverage.

“The project will be carried out for a period of six months. We will expand it to other townships depending on the outcome. Our aim is to reduce the procedures and redtape for employees who require coverage. In the past, there were 56 steps involved in applying for coverage, but under the project we’ve reduced it to just 31,” said U Maung Maung Aye, director general of the Social Welfare Board. 

He added that once a new IT system has been implemented, the number of steps will be further reduced.  

In Myanmar, employees who experience accidents at their workplaces are eligible to receive medical treatment, temporary disability allowance, permanent disability allowance and work-related accident allowance for a small premium under the 2012 Occupational Safety and Health Law. An updated version of the law was proposed in March this year and discussions to issue rules and regulations are underway.

The current law permits six insurance schemes which cover health, family support insurance, workplace injuries, pensions, unemployment and housing.

According to the latest estimates of Bureau of International Labor Affairs, workplace safety and healthcare are basic human rights. Currently, around 2.8 million workers die from workplace accidents and workplace related diseases, it said.

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/pilot-project-workplace-injury-insurance-launched.html )

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