Dear esteemed workers,
On this historic and significant Workers’ day, I send this Message of Metta and Greetings to all Myanmar workers including all Myanmar migrant workers abroad, good health and happiness, auspiciousness, peace in their work places and progress and development of their socio-economic lives.
The Workers’ Day which emerged to honor all workers of the world traversed together with a long history throughout the ages. During successive industrial revolutions, workers have fought for their inherent rights and desires in the face of many difficulties and succeeded.
At the present time, we have seen that the rights to which they are entitled, of workers all over the world, including Myanmar have improved. We need to recognize and respect those workers who have provided leadership with good intentions. The Union Government has been working with special regard to ensure that workers are able to receive and enjoy in accordance with the law, all their entitled rights.
Dear esteemed workers,
Myanmar today is a country undergoing a democratic transformation, and we have been facing challenges not only inside the country but also in the international arena. Therefore we are working to get good results we are utilizing the strength of not only our people but also the assistance of our friends at home and abroad. Our Union Government has been making concerted efforts for democracy and human rights which the people ardently desire without losing sight of these goals.
Workers who are born of the people, should carry out their responsibilities and work hard, and try to solve the difficulties they are facing in accordance with the law through negotiations and discussions.
In the MSDP – Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (2018 – 2030), which has been formulated based on global aspirations, the Union Government has stipulated the goals of human resources and human development for the 21st century human community. In addition, the Union Government has put into its priority programs measures to utilize the productive force of all workers including migrant workers; and also to protect the rights of workers. These two items have been included into the strategy. In addition the Union Government has included programs for the prosperity and well-being of workers into the priority programs. In accordance with the above programs, the Union Government has been taking the following actions with seriousness and dedication:
- Providing full service to job seekers so that they get jobs.
- Providing the required training courses.
- Issuing competency certificates.
- To get full pay during the employment period.
- To get leave entitlements properly.
- Health and a workplace free from danger.
- Job security, happy workplace and good relations with workers.
- Increased productivity.
- Social security benefits to be enjoyed by those who have joined the scheme.
Dear esteemed workers,
We have been helping all workers who wish to work to get jobs. In addition we have put in place the following mechanisms – government programs and plans, foreign direct investment policies, policies relating to jobs, formulating policies for migrant workers, labor offices all over the country, mobile teams, One-stop service centers, domestic job agencies. These are the services we have been providing.
Furthermore, while establishing and implementing a policy to obtain foreign employment opportunities, a national level work program (2018-2022) on migrant workers has been drawn up and implemented.
Similarly, Labor Attaches were appointed and together with relevant Myanmar embassies, they are protecting and resolving issues faced by Myanmar migrant workers abroad. With the support of ILO and IMO, assistance and support centres for local migrant workers were opened.
Broadcasting of informative programs in television and news media, controlling and managing by law on conducting ethical recruitment for foreign employments and coordination works for returning migrant workers were conducted.
Skill and expertise of workers were becoming important and the State was placing great emphasis towards producing expert workers while the workers on their side also need to put in efforts towards becoming expert workers demanded by the market.
Cooperation of employers is very important. As such a bill was drawn up to amend the prevailing Employment and Skills Development Law. To effectively implement factory, shop and work site safety works a new Occupational Safety & Health Law was enacted.
Dear esteemed workers,
For workers to enjoy more social security benefit services were expanded and reforms were conducted in rising momentum to relax work procedures. Systematic works were conducted toward improving work site relationship through forming Worker Coordination Committees in all work sites.
With the benefit of the workers in mind the State has been amending laws for workers to obtain appropriate workers compensation that were in accord with the time. Foreign Workers Law was drawn up to systematically manage foreign workers. Laws that were not in line with time and era were amended or newly drawn up.
In order to effectively implement workers affairs that were in accord with the accepted international workers norms a total of 2,932 labor organizations at grass roots, township, state/ region levels were formed according to Labour Organization Law.
The Union Government is drawing up a complaint mechanism together with ILO to eradicate forced labor while work programs with the aims of raising the labor rights of ethnic minorities including vulnerable persons were drawn up in order to establish a National Complaints Mechanism.
Child labor and forcing to work in the worst forms were being eradicated through managing and guiding relevant committees and resolving matters in cooperation and coordination with local and foreign employer and workers associations. Works are underway towards confirming dangerous works also.
With the aim of establishing peaceful and stable worksites through improving tripartite relationship between government, employer and workers, National Tripartite Dialogue Forums (NTDFs) are being held once every four months and matters relating to amending labor law as well as labor affairs were discussed and decided.
At a time when the State is aiming toward achieving sustainable development goals while striving for all round development, all citizens are urged overcome the challenges faced with collective strength.
At a time when the State was placing emphasis toward conducting important policy changes for the lives of the workers to progress step by step, I send this Message of Greetings with the fervent hope that employers, workers and relevant departments would work towards raising productivity with harmony and mutual understanding.
