Myanmar's VP calls for legal protection to migrant workers

YANGON, Dec. 19 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar Vice President U Myint Swe has called for giving legal protection to migrant workers, especially women and children, when laws and policies are drawn for migrant rights, Myanmar News Agency reported Tuesday.

Observing the 2017 International Migrants Day in Nay Pyi Taw Monday, U Myint Swe stressed the need to produce more skilled workers in Myanmar who can meet the changing requirements of the labor market.

Citing Myanmar's join-in signing of the ASEAN Declaration on the Protection and Promotion of the Rights of Migrant Workers at the 31st ASEAN Summit held in the Philippines in November 2017, U Myint Swe voiced Myanmar's commitment toward social protection of migrant workers in the region, obtaining justice, health protection, humane and fair treatment of migrant workers.

He urged for ensuring a safe and secure method of transferring money by migrant workers to their homes, saying that money remitted by migrant workers from developing countries to their families is a major source of GDP for their home countries.

He called for cooperation in establishing a complete and successful society where migrant workers, who contribute towards the economic development of both the host country and country of origin, have a safe way of migrating, while being accorded protection and full rights.

There are 261 employment agencies including one government-operated one in Myanmar systematically sending migrant workers to Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, South Korea, Japan and some Middle East countries which are popular destinations of Myanmar migrant workers. Enditem