Myanmar labour organizations planned to propose an increase in the country’s minimum wage

Labour organisations will propose an increase in the country’s minimum wage when the National Committee for Minimum Wage holds meeting later in the year.

The Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM) has conducted a survey on the cost of living and the cost of health of a worker in Yangon, Bago, Mandalay, Magwe and Sagaing regions and Shan and Kayin states.

U Win Zaw, a central committee of the workers’ group, said they are inclined to propose K7200 (US$4.93) for eight hours work or K900 per hour work.

At present, the minimum wage is set at K4800 for eight hours of work despite opposition from labour groups. The current wage is up for review in May this year.

“We have received recommendations from CTUM, labour activists and other federations that the minimum wage should be raised,” U Win Zaw told The Myanmar Times.

The National Committee for Minimum Wage is comprised of 27 representatives from the government, workers, and employers. The committee is tasked to review the country’s minimum wage every two years.

The current minimum wage was approved in May 2018 so it is up for review starting in May this year.

The committee will deliberate on the issue and will have to announce the agreement within 60 days. If no objection is raised to the agreement, it will be confirmed on the day the directive is issued by the Union government.

U Thet Hnin Aung, general secretary of the Myanmar Industries Craft & Services Trade Unions Federation (MICS), said his group is also conducting its own survey and would not want to comment on the labour group’s plan.

"We are still doing surveys. We are thinking of ways to control the rising commodity prices, rather than asking for a raise in the minimum wage," he said.

“It's not certain if the set minimum wage for the entire country would be reset depending on types of businesses or different states and regions,” he added. “It's hard to show support for setting the same rate for the entire country. The committee meeting will focus on setting a reasonable rate and resetting depending on the types of businesses.” -Translated

(The Myanmar Times: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/myanmar-labour-group-propose-increase-minimum-wage.html )

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