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Myanmar to amend labor laws for workers' rights

Xinhua, September 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

Myanmar will amend labor laws and review standard terms in employment contracts aimed at protecting the rights of workers, according to the Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Securities Tuesday.

Government representatives had reached agreement with factory owners and workers for the amendment during the National Tripartite Dialogue Forum held in Nay Pyi Taw over the past four days.

There are weaknesses in Myanmar's labor laws such as the Settlement of Labor Dispute Law, the Workers Compensation Act and the 2012 Labor Organization Law, said an official of Legal Department of the Confederation of Trade Unions Myanmar.

The details of the amendments are yet to be decided.

The trade unions will reportedly discuss existing employment contract terms with government representatives in detail, with a particular emphasis on addressing the lack of a role for workers' unions at factories.

So far, more than 1,000 laid-off workers have found new jobs, according to statistics of the department.

There are currently around 27,000 job opportunities offered by 135 factories in 11 townships in Yangon region.

A month ago, the government's National Minimum Wage Committee designated a basic and standard minimum 8-hour daily wage of 3,600 kyats (about 2.83 U.S. dollars) for all workers in the country.

The minimum wage, to be applied in all regions and states without discrimination and for all kinds of workshop with more than 15 workers, took effect from Sept. 1.

The Ministry of Labor, Employment and Social Security has urged factory owners in the country to ensure the minimum wage for workers by signing employment contracts with them within the first month of their employment starting September. Endi