26 April
By Khin Yadanar and Zin Oo, Photo by Thaw Ta Win (Labor)
In line with the aim, objective and goal, the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population is dashing ahead in smart manner under the direction of the government in the implementation of the task.
Labour affairs have been given special attention, while the immigration and the population matters have been streamlined into reform perspective.
More jobs on the agenda
Linking with relevant departments, the MOLIP has succeeded in finding jobs for (1,178,306) persons in the fourth year, (65,000) more than the previous year.
Opening windows to the outside world, (291,274) workers have been secured with jobs in (9) foreign countries in 2019, surpassing the previous year number of (63,000).
Accomplished tasks were seen as that of the formation of (177) associations of employers and employees; that of the establishment of “One Stop Service”; and that of showcasing many “Job Fairs” for job opportunities. Job opportunity road shows have been organized in (8) towns across the country, resulting with the appointments of (2,259) employees, and that more road shows of jobs are on the agenda, according to Union Minister U Thein Swe.
On migrant workers
Signing of Memorandum of Cooperation between Japan and Myanmar on a Basic Framework for Information Partnership for Proper Operation of the System pertaining to Foreign Human Resources with the Status of Residence of “Specified Skilled Worker” has been done on 28 March 2019.
“Myanmar healthcare workers were sent to Japan beginning 1 January 2019 to take care of elderly and poor health people. So far (962) workers were sent till January 2020. Moreover, MOU is to be signed with Singapore for sending Myanmar domestic assistants,” the Union Minister explained.
Safe migrant workers
Interestingly, the ILO and the IOM have coordinated jointly in opening Migrant Resources Centres (MRC) in Tachilek, Hinthada, Myawaddy, Myitkyina, and Myeik. More offices are on the agenda to be opened in Loikaw, Aunglan and Moehnyin.
Nurturing of skill workers
Taking the centre point, the MOLIP acted as the focal ministry with regard to Myanmar workers migration, job opportunities, lifelong learning, and upgrading of skills of workers.
National Skills Standard Authority (NSSA) of Ministry for Labour, Immigration and Population presented national level skill certificates to workers in Myanmar.
Minimum Wage
“Minimum wage is to be fixed every two years according to the law, and that the relevant committees including states / regions and the employers are keeping in touch for fixing wages. Cases would be submitted to the national committee for fixing minimum wages, and that the process would be continued,” Union Minister U Thein Swe explained.
Survey on workforce
Strength of the workforce was being compiled as the rough estimate in the past, and nowadays, the data is being collected and compiles from the yearly workforce survey. Beginning 2017, the survey on workforce has been collected and compiled with the government budget, once every two years.
Interestingly, in 2019, the yearly survey on workforce was being collected with the use of tablet. A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile device, typically with a mobile operating system and touch screen display processing circuitry, and a rechargeable battery in a single, thin and flat package. The CAPI system is used. Computer-assisted personal interviewing (CAPI) is an interviewing technique in which the respondent or interviewer uses an electronic device to answer the questions.
Close cooperation with ILO
“The MOLIP is closely working with ILO, and that the Myanmar delegation, representing the government, the employer and the employee, regularly attended the meetings in Geneva, Switzerland,” Union Minister U Thein Swe explained.
Forced labor
With the calls of the situation, the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP) (2018 – 2021) has been approved for implementation on 21 September 2018 as agreed by the government, the employer, and the worker’s representative in the presence of ILO.
The MOU was signed with three prioritized work programmes. Moreover, the action plan is being spread out, and that the forced labor issue management and implementation national committee has been form with the participation of (16) ministries.
Prior to 2019, a High Level Working Group (HLWG), formed as a transitional body before the National Complaints Mechanism (NCM) came into existence, had dealt with complaints related to forced labor.
Now, the National Complaints Mechanism has become operational, and anyone can lodge a complaint with the NCM via the Hluttaw, the Office of the President, regional and state governments, the Myanmar Human Rights Commission, ILO office (Yangon), Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population, in person or by mail.
In April 2019, the ASEAN Labor ministers’ special session was held in Singapore, and that the “ASEAN Labour Ministers’ Statement on the Future of Work: Embracing Technology For Inclusive And Sustainable Growth” was signed. Moreover, the “ASEAN Labour Minister’s Joint Statement on Green Initiative” have been approved for the submission to (108) ILO meeting.
New Laws drafted
The Department of Labor is managing the labour matters with the use of seven labor related laws, and that the outdated and obsolete laws were being nullified and the new laws are being enacted.
“The necessary amendments in connection with the labour laws of 2011 have been taken up for coordination and cooperation with the demands of the workers and the desire of the employers based on the existing conditions of the country. At this juncture, the Technical Working Group (TWG) and the Law for Labour Relations (LLR) have been formed and the negotiations were being discussed on the labour issues,” explained Union Minister U Thein Swe.
SSB workers
There are (34,574) Social Security Board (SSB) establishments and worksites covering (1,467,824) insured SSB workers as of January 2020. For the benefits and advantages of the insured workers, there are three workers hospitals, (96) SSB clinics, (60) Departmental clinics, (5) SSB Care Well Clinics, one traditional clinic, (2) mobile clinics, and (7) medical treatment facilities namely “Provider Purchaser Split” categorized as the health service provider and the health care seeker. These facilities are established in (116) townships across the country for the SSB insured workers.
In the reimbursement and refund of medical benefits, unnecessary calls of non essential paperwork and documents have been cancelled for the comfort of the workers. With the assistant of the ILO, modern system has been applied in the reimbursement claims that resulted with the shorter and lesser time of refund payments to the satisfaction of the workers in four types of compensation cases.
Interestingly, the compensation and refund of cash and similar matters are realized through “Online Payment” system, and that other official paper works are carried out through “e-Service”.
Reforms
IT reform is ongoing and that the ILO Korea Project is rolling ahead. At the moment, the SSB Information System is on the agenda to be implemented in three years.
The administrative reform is moving ahead with the assistance of the “Vision Zero Fund Project” of the ILO.
SSB benefits
“Exchanges of knowledge and sharing of experiences among the developing countries under the South-South and Triangular Co-operation (SSTC) initiatives have been in progress under the arrangement of the ILO. At the moment, there are (12) categories of worker’s benefits for which (1 point 4) million workers have enjoyed cash benefits amounting MMK (16) billion,” said Union Minister U Thein Swe.
Prioritized works
In right direction, the Department of Factory & Labour Law Inspection has been collaborating with the ILO in the tasks such as that of safety atmospheres at worksite; that of elevating the health care of the workers; that of awareness sharing and capacity building of the workers through training courses and workshops.
“Eradication of child labour campaign in Myanmar is taking momentum through a committee headed by Vice President that started to roll ahead in January 2019 with five-year plan. The Myanmar government will release a list of jobs which are warned as unsuitable for children to do in the country in order to prevent them from working in hazardous condition,” explained the Union Minister.
Labour Disputes
A dispute between an employer and workers can be handled by the labour department or the court. In the dispute settlement mechanism, a “township conciliation body” acted as the mediator. There are (325) township conciliation bodies that had settled (810) cases out of (943) disputes during April 2019 to January 2020.
Putting smiles on faces of the workers, a total of (2,581) Workplace Coordinating Committee (WCC) have been formed at factories, workshops and establishments, adding (1,290) WCC then the previous status.
“On the negative impact of COVID -19, possible scenarios in the upcoming years have been taken up for consideration, with focus on the positions of the employers as well as the ground reality of the workers,” the Union Minister explained.
Expansion of visas
At the focal point, the Immigration Department is shouldering the issuance of e-visas to foreigners who entered Myanmar and that the Visa On Arrivals are also facilitated.
Foreigners are allowed to enter Myanmar at international airports namely Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw, and the international gateways such as Yangon International Port, Tachilek, Myawaddy, Kawthaung, Htee Khee, Tamu, and Rikhawdar. There are (14) categories of entry visas to enter Myanmar, and that (8) types of visas are being accorded with Multiple Journey Entry Visa (MJEV) with 3-months / 6-months / one-year stay permits for the visitors.
Visa On Arrival are accorded to national of (55) countries for entry into Myanmar through (3) international airports, and that during this year nationals from (8) countries namely China, India, Australia Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Russia. In addition, (5) countries namely Austria, Czech, , Hungary, Luxemburg and New Zealand have been added in the list.
Over (500,000) passengers permitted
Interestingly, over (529,000) e-visas have been issued to visitors, and that Myanmar have signed agreements with (24) countries, including ASEAN nations, on reciprocal visa exemptions.
“Using Machine Readable Travel Documents (MRTD) system at the international airports and at border entry / exit points, the ‘Border Control System’ (BCS) has been expanded in the collection of data and information of the passengers. The first step is to establish the network, and then the second step is to collect individual information through biometric system; and at the third stage e-passports are to be entertained at the auto gate,” Union Minister explained.
Allowing as previous citizenship
With miscellaneous assortment of reasons, some people have been swept under the rug in the “Black List”, barring them to enter back Myanmar. As time has changed, with the positive criteria of “Thitsar Project”, (335) Myanmar citizens and (469) foreigners have been salvaged from that “Black List”.
Garlanding hope and happiness to (306) persons among (401) former Myanmar citizens, they are honored back with previous citizenship.
In collaboration with the UNDP and UNHCR, two repatriation camps namely Taung Pyo Letwe and Nga Khu Ya have been opened to take back those people who crossed over to Bangladesh during the conflict in Rakhine State.
Over (2,600,000) Citizenship Scrutiny Cards issued
With the “Thitsar Project”, over (2,680,000) persons have been swiftly handed over with Citizenship Scrutiny Cards, and that the collection of data and information and the distribution of cards at the villages by mobile teams, which have been carried out in 2019 amid unprecedented were indeed blissful events.
Necessary household registration lists, the citizenship scrutiny cards, and other relevant documents have been issued to migrated family members, domestic migrant workers working elsewhere in the country.
Verification Cards
“In accordance with the existing laws, ‘National Verification Cards’ have been issued to those necessary persons in the country. The NV Cards are being issued with the clear and good purpose to identify the persons residing within the jurisdiction of the country while they are supposed to undergo scrutiny process or waiting for such verification procedure under the 1982 Myanmar Citizenship Law. Citizens staying at various IDP camps are also accorded with necessary cards,” explained the Union Minister.
Myanmar is working with Austria in establishing e-ID system which is the basic arrangement of e-Government, and that necessary agreement is to be signed with Österreichische Staatsdruckerei (Austrian State Printing House – OeSD).
Interim Census
“In support of the Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP), necessary indicators are required in the application, and therefore, the 2019 Interim Census is conducted in the country. The interim task is being done before the final countdown to be realized in 2024,” the Union Minister explained.
“Most successful achievement could be referred at the ‘On Arrival Visa’ being accorded to globetrotters. In support of the nation’s development, the tourist visas are issued in swift speed in e-Tourist Visa. The reacceptance of the expatriates as previous citizenship is among the achievements,” the Union Minister expressed his view.
Endeavours for the success
“In the years ahead, the tasks to be prioritized such as that of the issuance of National Verification cards; that of the approval for Permanent Residence to former Myanmar citizens; that of making relaxation and flexibility over the visa rules ; and that of the implementation of e – ID system,” the Union Minister said.
In conclusion, Union Minister U Thein Swe expressed, “The implementation of the original policies and objectives are ongoing and that the necessary tasks would be implement as and when required. All in all, the crucial duty as laid down by the State would be shouldered in priority and go hand in hand with other ministries to the best of our abilities.” Translated by UMT (Ahlon)
