International Labour Organisation (ILO)
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Individual Documents
Sub-title:
As COVID-19 shutdowns spike unemployment, the labour body's Guy Ryder discusses how governments can protect workers.
Description:
"he coronavirus pandemic has changed the way we live.
Nearly every country in the world has been affected. There have already been millions of infections, and hundreds of thousands of deaths.
And while scientists work on developing a vaccine, governments are focusing on reducing the number of infections through social distancing and other preventive measures.
But these restrictions have brought with them countless financial losses across the globe. The coronavirus recession is considered to be the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression of 1929.
As COVID-19 measures halt international trade, shut down airports and leave businesses bankrupt, tens of millions of people have lost their jobs. And for many, being unemployed in the middle of a pandemic means not only losing their income but also losing access to healthcare.
So, how can governments protect their workers and rebuild their economies?
The director-general of the International Labour Organization (ILO)..."
Source/publisher:
"Talk To Aljazeera"
Date of publication:
2020-05-23
Date of entry/update:
2020-05-26
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO), COVID-19 (Coronavirus), International labour standards and mechanisms
Language:
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Description:
"In Myanmar’ Shan State, ginger represents an important means of livelihood for hundreds of farmers. Working long hours under the blazing sun, farmers seldom protect themselves from the risks the fields expose them to. To address the various health risks associated with agricultural practices and maximize cropping, the ILO Vision Zero Fund project is working with farmers and their communities to equip them with better information on occupational safety and health (OSH) and the safe use of agrochemicals..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organization (ILO)
Date of publication:
2018-07-02
Date of entry/update:
2019-08-08
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO), Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Sustainable agriculture - Burma/Myanmar
Language:
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Description:
"Document GB.300/8 has reported on the application of the Supplementary Understanding
(SU) signed between the ILO and the Government of Myanmar on 26 February 2007 up to
the end of September 2007. As this addendum reports on the period from 1 October 2007,
it also covers the period following the civil unrest. In particular, it attempts to assess the
impact of recent events on the application of the SU.
At the time of writing, the Secretary-General’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Mr Ibrahim
Gambari, was still in the country addressing the issues raised by the international
community. The Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar, Mr Sergio Pinheiro,
was due to arrive on 11 November 2007, following the Government of Myanmar’s
agreeing to receive a visit from him prior to the ASEAN summit.
As of 7 November 2007, 56 complaints had been recorded as received by the Liaison
Officer. Four new cases have been received since the end of September. An updated copy
of the register of cases will be made available to this session of the Governing Body.
During the period 20 September to 10 October (the civil protest period) no complaints
were received. It is probable that persons who have been involved in transmitting
complaints have been discouraged, or detracted, by the public protest activity and the
measures taken by the Government to counter the protests.
The four new complaints that have been recently received are of a different nature than the
previous general pattern. One is an allegation of forced labour directly resulting from the
protest activities and concerns the authorities’ requirement for ready access to bus
transport to meet their potential need for rapid deployment of personnel. One relates to an
alleged breach of article 9 of the SU through the detention and harassment of persons
involved in the making and facilitation of forced labour complaints. Two allegations
concern the forced military recruitment of minors. These complaints have been assessed by
the Liaison Officer, in the manner foreseen by the SU, and referred to the responsible
Government Working Group for investigation and appropriate action. Their receipt has
been acknowledged, and responses are duly awaited. The Liaison Officer has also recently..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO) - GB.300/8(Add.)
Date of publication:
2007-11-11
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
27.85 KB
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Description:
"Articles 1(1), 2(1) and 25 o f the Convention. Elimination o f all forms o f forced labour 1. Engagement o f the
ILO regarding the elimination o f forced labour. (a) Historical background. In March 1997, a Commission of Inquiry
was established under article 26 of the ILO Constitution to address the forced labour situation in Myanmar. As reported to
the ILO Governing Body, forced labour had taken various forms in the country over the years, including forced labour in
conflict zones, as well as for public and private undertakings. In its recommendations, the Commission of Inquiry urged
the Government to take the necessary steps to ensure that: (i) the relevant legislative texts, in particular the Village Act
and the Towns Act, be brought into line with the Convention; (ii) in practice, no more forced or compulsory labour be
imposed by the authorities, in particular the military; and (iii) the penalties which may be imposed under section 374 of
the Penal Code for the exaction of forced or compulsory labour be strictly enforced.
Since then, the issue has been the focus of cooperation between the Government and the ILO for more than a decade.
In 2002, an Understanding was agreed between the Government and the ILO, which permitted the appointment of an ILO
Liaison Officer. Later in 2007, the Supplementary Understanding (SU) was signed to, in particular, set out a complaints
mechanism with the objective “to formally offer the possibility to victims of forced labour to channel their complaints
through the services of the Liaison Officer to the competent authorities with a view to seeking remedies available under
the relevant legislation and in accordance with the Convention”. In addition, in 2012, the ILO concluded a Memorandum
of Understanding (MoU) on a Joint Strategy for the Elimination of Forced Labour by 2015, which provided a basis for
seven inter-related action plans. The ILO also participated in the Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting on
underage recruitment issues.
(b) Recent developments. On 22 January 2018, the Government and the ILO signed another MoU, which agreed
on a new Action Plan for the elimination of all forms of forced labour for the year of 2018. The Action Plan focuses on
four priorities, including: (i) continued operation of the complaints mechanism; (ii) training and awareness raising on
forced labour including for Government officials; (iii) capacity building to end forced labour at regional and state levels;
and (iv) mobilization of tripartite partners for the prevention of forced labour in the private sector. In particular, the
extension of the SU to 31 December 2018 will allow the complaints mechanism and further cooperation on forced labour
to continue during the transition to the Decent Work Country Programme (DWCP), which was endorsed by the National
Tripartite Dialogue Forum on 16 January 2018. During its most recent discussion on this case in March 2018, the
Governing Body concluded that the extension of the SU and agreement on an updated further phase of the Action Plan for
the Elimination of Forced Labour, together with the tripartite endorsement of the first DWCP for Myanmar, are very
welcome and represent significant progress in pursuing ILO constituent priorities (GB.332/INS/8, paragraph 17). In
September 2018, the first DWCP for Myanmar was agreed by the Union Government, the employers’ and workers’
organizations and the ILO, which is considered by all parties as a major step forward for the country, signalling a process towards normalizing its engagement with the ILO and the International Community after decades of authoritarian rule and
related problems of forced labour.
2. Application o f the Convention in law and in practice. In its previous comments, the Committee noted with
satisfaction the adoption of the Ward or Village Tract Administration Act of 2012, which repealed the Village Act and the
Towns Act of 1907 (section 37) and makes the use of forced labour by any person a criminal offence punishable with
imprisonment and fines (section 27A). However, the Committee noted that no action had been taken to amend article 359
of the Constitution (Chapter VIII - Citizenship, fundamental rights and duties of citizens), which exempts from the
prohibition of forced labour “duties assigned by the Union in accordance with the law in the interest of the public” and
could be interpreted in such a way as to allow a generalized exaction of forced labour from the population. The
Government stated that the 2008 Constitution would be amended as required. Regarding the practical application of the
Convention, the Committee welcomed the various measures undertaken by the Government in collaboration with the ILO,
aimed at the eradication of forced labour in practice. These measures included the undertaking of an extensive range of
awareness-raising activities across the country, support for the continued use of the SU complaints mechanism to enable
victims of forced labour to seek redress, as well as holding to account a substantial number of military personnel for their
continued use of forced labour. While taking due note of the progress made towards the elimination of all forms of forced
labour, the Committee observed that the use of forced labour continued in Myanmar.
The Committee notes the Government’s information in its report that, from March 2007 to June 2018, the
complaints mechanism received a total number of 754 cases, of which 739 are related to underage recruitment, 13 to
forced labour and 2 to other issues. 377 military personnel, including 64 officers and 313 soldiers of other ranks, were
punished by military disciplinary action for underage recruitment and forced labour. Moreover, within the framework of
the Action Plan for Prevention of Underage Recruitment, 448 military personnel were punished by military disciplinary
action. Only one person was punished under section 374 of the Penal Code. The Committee also notes the Government
indication that implementing directives for the Ward or Village Tract Administration Law of 2012 were issued for ward
and village tract administrators and general administrative departments at all levels. Moreover, 18,191 awareness-raising
workshops on forced labour were held, with 1,280, 307 participants from related townships of all states and regions.
Training was also provided to military personnel for the prevention of underage recruitment. The Government further
indicates that a special budget was allocated to the ward and village tract administration offices to prevent the use of
forced or unpaid labour. Furthermore, measures were undertaken to ensure the enforcement of labour laws, particularly in
the private sector. The labour law reform is also ongoing with the technical assistance provided by the ILO. However, the
Committee notes that the Government’ s report does not contain any information on the progress made regarding the
amendment to article 359 of Chapter VIII of the Constitution..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2019-06-06
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
123.31 KB
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Description:
"The Committee notes the discussion that took place in the Conference Committee on the Application of Standards in
June 2018 concerning the application of the Convention. The Committee observes that the Conference Committee
regretted the absence of progress with respect to the long-awaited legal framework in which workers and employers may
freely exercise their rights under the Convention and urged the Government to: (i) ensure that the Labour Organization
Law (LOL) and the Settlement of Labour Disputes Law are brought into full compliance with the Convention by availing
itself of ILO technical assistance during the legislative reform process; (ii) ensure that workers are able to carry out their
trade union activities without threat of violence or other violations of their civil liberties by police or private security; (iii)
ensure that the registration of workers’ and employers’ organizations is not subject to unreasonable requirements to
guarantee that the right to join or establish organizations of their own choosing is not hindered in practice; (iv) ensure that
applications for union registration are acted upon expeditiously and are not denied unless they fail to meet clear and
objective criteria set forth in the law; and (v) bring the labour legislation in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) into
conformity with the Convention, with full consultation of the social partners. The Conference Committee further
requested the Government to accept a direct contacts mission and to report on progress made on its recommendations to
the Committee of Experts for its meeting in November 2018.
The Committee notes that the direct contacts mission took place from 1 to 4 October 2018 and welcomes the manner
in which the Government and the Myanmar workers’ and employers’ organizations constructively engaged and
collaborated with the mission. In particular, the Committee notes with interest from the mission report conclusions that all
parties had shown an important degree of commitment to building a climate for full respect of freedom of association in
the short time that had elapsed since the entry into force of the freedom of association framework legislation. The
Committee encourages the continued development o f a conducive environment fo r the fu ll application o f the
Convention.
Labour law reform process. The Committee recalls that in its previous comments it had requested the Government
to provide information on the progress made in labour law reform.
Article 2 o f the Convention. As regards the LOL, the Committee notes the Government’s indication that it has
initiated the labour law reform process within the framework of the National Tripartite Dialogue Forum (NTDF) which
has met on numerous occasions with the technical assistance of the Office. While the draft amendment law is still being
reviewed internally, the Government refers to a number of proposed changes, including the elimination of the additional
10 per cent requirement to form a basic labour organization, as previously requested by the Committee. The Committee
further notes the Government’s indication that, since the law’s entry into force, it has registered 2,761 basic labour
organizations, 146 township labour organizations, 22 region or state labour organizations, eight labour federations and one
labour confederation. The Government also refers to 26 basic employer organizations, one township employer
organization and one employer federation formed under the law. The Committee notes that in order to gain a greater
understanding of the obstacles encountered by workers wishing to form organizations, officials from the Ministry for
Labour, Immigration and Population held nationwide consultations with a number of basic and township level
organizations. The Committee recognizes, as the Government itself does, that a great deal of the country’s population is spread out in townships and districts far away from the centralized authority, where the awareness of the national law and
ratified international Conventions is likely to be quite limited. The Committee encourages the Government to pursue
these consultations throughout its territory so as to ensure that all workers and employers, without distinction
whatsoever, are able, not only in law but also in practice, to fully exercise their rights under the Convention, bearing in
mind key difficulties faced by parts o f the population, such as those in remote areas.
The Committee further recalls its request for information on the outcome of any review of the impact of the
pyramidal structure for organizing set out in section 4 of the law. Noting from the direct contacts mission report that this
imposed structure poses a problem fo r the formation o f both workers’ and employers’ organizations, the Committee
requests the Government to take the necessary measures to ensure that workers and employers may form and join
organizations o f their own choosing in law and in practice, including at sectoral level, and to provide a copy o f the
proposed amendments once they have been submitted to Parliament.
The Committee also notes the allegations in the ITUC observation that unions are often denied registration for
arbitrary reasons, including requests that executive committee members submit resumes, that all union members submit
photocopies of national identity cards, and that a letter from the factory be produced showing that it has been informed of
the attempt to register a union. The Committee notes with interest from the mission report that the Ministry has followed
up at township level following nationwide consultations on the obstacles encountered and has published a Directive
instructing labour officers to cease requesting such documents that are not required by law, while facilitating identity cards
for founding members. The Committee requests the Government to provide information on any denials o f registration,
including reasons fo r such decisions and procedures fo r review and appeal o f such denials..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2019-06-06
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
122.23 KB
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Description:
"This paper sets out to understand how trade liberalization particularly impacts employment in the Global South by looking at the case of Myanmar. The paper is divided into five succinct parts that
contribute to analysing to what extent trade liberalization through out Myanmar’s economic and political changes. Based on the findings of this paper, there are five key areas that shed light on the linkages
between trade and employment in Myanmar. These five areas include, (i) trade, structural transformation and employment, (ii) informality of the economy (iii) trade and global value chains integration (iv)
productivity (v) and wages, income inequality and working conditions.
The first section looks at the structural transformation of the economy, which is best described by Myanmar’s shift from an agrarian economy to an industrialized economy. Consequently, the shares of
industry and services sector to total GDP have increased overtime but the growth in the agriculture sector is not strong as others due to constraints such as high production cost, low productivity, low quality
products and lack of value chain integration. Moreover, data indicated how the garment sector experienced positive employment when export value of garment sector increased by threefold. Secondly,
the significance of the informal sector is demonstrated in how it employed about 81.9 per cent of total
labour force in 2017 and at least over 40 percent of Myanmar's imports from neighbouring country come
through informal channels. The World Bank's enterprises survey data (2016) confirmed that informal
firms in Myanmar have lower sales per worker (labour productivity) compared to firms in formal sector.
Therefore, based on previous findings, it can be assumed that workers in formal sector in Myanmar,
especially from export-oriented firms have gained more because of trade openness.
Furthermore, there is a need to invest in job-friendly global value chains which can be primarily done
through attracting FDI to diverse job-intensive sectors helping SMEs engage in GVCs is key to creating
quality jobs. This shows that foreign capital is not automatically generating better working conditions and
the host government play critical role in making sure better working environment and protecting
venerable workers not to be exploited. Based on the facts and discussions, this study recommends a
strong coordination among stakeholders and institutes with clear objectives to response present changing
dynamics in trade context as well as social security provisions to make sure benefits go to workers as
well..."
MIN ZAR NI LIN
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2018-08-31
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
612.68 KB
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Description:
"The publication of information concerning action taken in respect of international labour Conventions and
Recommendations does not imply any expression of view by the International Labour Office on the legal status of
the State having communicated such information (including the communication of a ratification or declaration), or
on its authority over the areas or territories in respect of which such information is communicated; in certain cases
this may present problems on which the ILO is not competent to express an opinion.
Information on ILO publications and digital products can be found at: www.ilo.org/publns..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2019-06-06
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
11.34 MB
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Description:
"Country baselines under the ILO Declaration Annual Review are based on the following elements to the extent they are available:
governments’ reports, observations by employers’ and workers’ organizations, case studies prepared under the auspices of the country and
the ILO, and observations/recommendations by the ILO Declaration Expert-Advisers and by the ILO Governing Body. For any further
information on the realization of this principle and right in a given country, in relation with a ratified Convention or possible cases that have
been submitted to the ILO Committee on Freedom of Association, please see: http://webfusion.ilo.org/public/db/standards/normes/libsynd..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2018-05-18
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO), News about the ILO and Burma/Myanmar, Labour issues in Burma
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
249.44 KB
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Description:
"Tourism is a key driver of socio-economic progress in Myanmar and it’s expected to provide over two million new jobs by 2020. In order to assist Myanmar in further developing the tourism sector and its workforce, the ILO launched the “Scaling up STED: Skills for Trade and Economic Diversification” project with a focus on tour guides. The ILO’s STED project facilitated cooperation among all stakeholders involved in the tourism sector and helped to create competency based standards for tourist guides..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2017-05-04
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Language:
English, Burmese (မြန်မာဘာသာ)
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Description:
"Labour migration has long been an important livelihood strategy for the people of Myanmar. By migrating, families
and their communities have been able to survive periods of severe economic hardship and stagnation. It is thought
that as much as 10 per cent of the labour force is working abroad, with over 3 million Myanmar migrant workers
employed in Thailand and Malaysia alone (ILO, 2015). According to the World Bank, an estimated US$2.754 billion
was remitted by migrants in 2018, approximately 3.9 per cent of GDP, which does not include the millions that are
informally remitted through brokers or hand carried back home to family members.
An established policy framework to manage the immense labour migration flows is yet to be developed in
Myanmar. As a result, migration remains largely laissez-faire and inequitable, divided between regular migrants
who typically head to more developed economies within Asia and the Middle East via formal recruitment and
irregular migrants who travel clandestinely to work in neighbouring middle income countries. The Ministry of
Labour, Immigration and Population (MOLIP) is mandated to manage labour migration from Myanmar and regulate
the 273 licensed overseas employment agencies.
Because of the expensive, complex and time consuming procedures required for formal recruitment through
licensed agencies, most migrants continue to seek out the assistance of unlicensed brokers or go abroad
independently. The social networks that facilitate these movements were established long before any management
systems had been developed to regulate labour migration. The involvement of unscrupulous actors and the lack
of accurate and impartial information frequently also places migrants at risk of becoming victims of abuse and
exploitation.
As Myanmar emerges from its long period of isolation from the international community, new jobs are becoming
available both within the country and abroad. Old systems of job matching that included brokers, smugglers,
returned migrants and local leaders may no longer be able to navigate the formal procedures of legal migration
and are being superseded by licenced recruitment agencies. In 2016, the Government reported that approximately
1.9 million Myanmar workers had been deployed officially to 16 destination countries. In 2019, according to the
Government, Myanmar is sending workers to 18 destination countries through the 273 licensed overseas
employment agencies. In this newly emerging model of recruitment within Myanmar, potential migrants often do
not know who to trust or how to make use of the more formal services offered, and their lack of know-how leaves
them once again vulnerable to excessive fees and other forms of abuse..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2019-03-01
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
316.03 KB
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Description:
"Article 3 o f the Convention. Worst forms o f child labour. Clause (a). All forms o f slavery or practices similar to
slavery. Compulsory recruitment o f children for use in armed conflict. The Committee previously noted that the 1959
Defence Services Act (amended in 1974) and War Office Council Directive 13/73 of 1974 prohibit persons under the age
of 18 from joining the armed forces. It also noted from the Report of the Secretary-General on Children and Armed
Conflict of 5 June 2015 (A/69/926 S/2015/409) that a total of 357 cases of child recruitment and use by armed forces
(Tatmadaw), including children as young as 14 years, were reported. Children were reported to be recruited by armed
groups, including through abductions; into the formal ranks of the Tatmadaw; were deployed at the front line as
combatants and in support roles; and were also used as porters and scouts. The Report of the Secretary-General on
children and armed conflict further indicated the various positive steps taken by the Government, including the joint action
plan signed with the United Nations in June 2012 to end and prevent the recruitment and use of children by armed forces,
the endorsement of a work-plan for full implementation of this action plan, and the granting of monitoring access of the
United Nations to the armed forces. The Committee requested the Government to strengthen its efforts to put a stop, in
practice, to the recruitment of children under 18 years by the armed forces and armed groups.
The Committee notes the Government’s information that following the signing of the joint action plan for prevention
of underage recruitment in June 2012, the United Nations Country Task Force on Monitoring and Reporting (UNCTFMR)
met with the Government of Myanmar 48 times and visited 16 military commands, 85 battalions and infantry units for
monitoring. It also notes the Government’s indication that military disciplinary actions were taken against 448 military
personnel, including 96 officers, for recruiting under-age children into the Tatmadaw. Moreover, 877 military personnel
who were enrolled before attaining 18 years were handed over to their respective parents and guardians. The Committee
further notes the information provided by the Government on the various training courses, awareness raising activities,
including through newspapers and TV and radio broadcasts, and legal education provided to military personnel concerning
the implementation of the joint plan of action for prevention of underage recruitment as well as the prohibition of forced
recruitments. It further notes from the Government’s report under the Forced Labour Convention, 1930, (No. 29) that from
2007 to 2018, 754 cases, including 738 underage recruitment cases were received under the complaints mechanism of the
Supplementary Understanding, of which 325 cases were closed by the ILO.
The Committee notes, however, that according to the Report of the Secretary General on Children and Armed
Conflict of 16 May 2018 (A/72/865-S/2018/465), in 2017 the United Nations documented 428 cases of recruitment and
use of children, the majority of cases being attributed to the Tatmadaw, including 166 cases of formal recruitment of children, some as young as 13 years, and the informal and temporary use of about 200 children, for maintenance and
cleaning duties. Furthermore, the United Nations verified 39 cases of recruitment and use of children by armed groups
(Kachin Independence Army and Ta’ang National Liberation Army), and the use of 53 boys by the Border Guard Police
for camp maintenance, construction and carrying of equipment. The Committee finally notes from the Report of the
Special Rapporteur on the situation of Human Rights in Myanmar of March 2018 that although cases of recruitment and
use of child soldiers by the Tatmadaw had decreased from February 2013 to June 2017, a total of 856 complaints were
verified by the UNCTFMR (A/HRC/37/70, paragraph 38). While noting some of the measures taken by the Government,
the Committee must express its deep concern at the continued use and recruitment of children by armed forces and
groups. The Committee therefore strongly urges the Government to take the necessary measures as a matter o f urgency
to ensure the fu ll and immediate demobilization o f all children and to put a stop, in practice, to the forced recruitment
o f children under 18 years o f age into armed forces and groups. It also urges the Government to continue to take
immediate and effective measures to ensure that thorough investigations and prosecutions o f all persons, including
military personnel and officials, who forcibly recruit children under 18 years o f age fo r use in armed conflict, are
carried out and that sufficiently effective and dissuasive penalties are imposed in practice. The Committee requests the
Government to provide information on the measures taken and the results achieved in this regard..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2019-06-06
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-12
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
127.93 KB
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Description:
"The garment sector in Myanmar is one of the vital industries that supports the economic development of Myanmar and provides many job opportunities for the country’s workers. The sector is now estimated to employ a range of between 350,000 and 450,000 workers, 90 per cent of whom are women. The latest list from Myanmar Garment Manufacturer Association indicates that 518 factories are currently operational in the country.
The report provides a mapping of Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) dynamics, stakeholders in the reviewed sectors, the insights into key OSH hazards workers face within factories and into the types of OSH management and investments undertaken by manufacturers in Myanmar, and a set of business cases for nine OSH investments by presenting possible returns that can be obtained from either a business or risk reduction viewpoint..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2019-05-30
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Language:
English
Format :
pdf
Size:
831.12 KB
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Description:
"“The new OSH Law is a major step towards safer workplaces in Myanmar and preventing occupational injuries, diseases and deaths,” said Rory Mungoven, ILO Liaison Officer at the OSH Stakeholder Event. “Now we must all work together to achieve its effective implementation.”
The OSH Stakeholders Event was organized by the Factories and General Labour Laws Inspection Department (FGLLID) of the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population (MOLIP) with support of the International Labour Organization on the 6-7 May 2019. The OSH Event brought together over 150 representatives from Government Ministries as well as Workers’ and Employers’ Organizations, partners and OSH experts from the Philippines, Vietnam, Singapore and Japan to discuss the next steps on the implementation of the OSH Law (enacted on 15 March 2019).
The ILO is committed to support FGLLID in the preparations for the operationalization of the OSH Law and to assist FGLLID in the design and implementation of a comprehensive programme on OSH.
On the opening of the Conference, Myanmar’s Minister of Labour, Immigration and Population, H.E. U Thein Swe, urged the participants to discuss, brainstorm and develop ideas to implement the OSH Law, which aims to promote decent work in Myanmar and enhance the economic development.
“Today we will discuss the outcomes of Myanmar’s National OSH Profile as a critical step toward achieving the goal of a more effective and responsive OSH system, grounded in the national context and aligned with international standards”, Mungoven said. The National OSH Profile supports the implementation of the recently-adopted Decent Work Country Programme for Myanmar, in particular Outcome 3.3 on OSH.
Myanmar National Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) Profile was supported by the ILO as part of a portfolio of OSH development cooperation projects under the coordination of the ILO Liaison Office in Yangon, including the USDOL-funded [email protected] Project and the Vision Zero Fund Project. It was prepared in close cooperation with the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population/Factories and General Labour Laws Inspection Department, the social partners and other important stakeholders and has been carefully vetted in an open and tripartite series of consultations. The National OSH Profile serves as a baseline for regular review and development of OSH policy, planning and actions to enhance workplace safety for all. It is hoped that the profile will assist all stakeholders in their efforts to promote and ensure safe and healthy working conditions in Myanmar, and serve as a foundation for building a national culture of workplace prevention.
“The ILO is not alone in this field. The collaboration with other partners such as Denmark, the European Union and United States has contributed to the progress in this field that has brought us here today. Having robust systems for OSH is an important benchmark for foreign investors, for brands that are buying from Myanmar factories, and in many trade agreements” said the ILO Liaison Officer, also confirming ILO commitment to support FGLLID in the preparations for the operationalization of the OSH Law and to assist FGLLID in the design and implementation of the Programme on OSH.
Regional experience in setting up National OSH Systems and local sectorial OSH activities in garments, agriculture and construction were shared during the OSH Stakeholders Event. International guests illustrated regional experience from Vietnam, the Philippines, Singapore and Japan for Myanmar to identify the steps needed to achieve progress towards implementation of the OSH Law, define implementation priorities, and ensure relevant partnerships are fostered. Myanmar’s employers, workers and government stakeholders in garment, agriculture, and construction discussed current activities on OSH in their sectors and remaining challenges to comply with the new OSH Law..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2019-05-24
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Language:
English
more
Description:
"The World Day for Safety and Health at Work was commemorated around Myanmar in different states and regions. The ILO and the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population (MOLIP) through the Factories and General Labour Laws Inspection Department (FGLLID), employers’ and workers’ organisations held a morning event in Yangon to highlight the paramount importance of OSH for Myanmar’s sustainable development.
Inspired by the ILO Centenary celebrations and discussions on the Future of Work, the World Day this year took stock of a 100 years of work in improving OSH and looked to the future for continuing these efforts through major changes such as technology, demographics, employment relations and climate change.
“This is a day to think about the safety and health of workers and to highlight achievements such as the recent passage of the new OSH Law in Myanmar”, said Rory Mungoven, ILO Liaison Officer.
“OSH has been a priority for the ILO from its very origins and is written into the ILO Constitution. The Centenary is an opportunity to raise awareness of the many Conventions and standards developed by the ILO on OSH, such as Convention No. 187 Promotional Framework for Occupational Safety and Health Convention that have served as guidance for Myanmar’s new OSH Law. Mungoven said, ‘The Centenary is also a time to reflect on the future and how the changes we are seeing in the world of work require new approaches to ensure safety and health.”
Earlier this year, the ILO Global Commission on the Future of Work issued a report recommending, amongst other things, that OSH be considered one of the fundamental rights and principles at work and become part of a “universal labour guarantee”.
The third National Day on Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) commemoration in Yangon provided an opportunity for showcasing good practices and exchanging knowledge and experiences to promote safe and healthy work for all in Myanmar. Panel discussions with entrepreneurs and workers touched upon the opportunities brought by technology and connectivity, and the challenges arising from disruptive employment relations and the changing nature of Myanmar’s labour market.
‘The Government of Myanmar is certainly committed in the right direction”, said Rory Mungoven. The Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan aims to “Introduce and enforce regulations and protections related to workplace safety, inclusivity and non-discrimination in all forms, and the practice of equal pay for work of equal value”.
The ILO Decent Work Country Programme sets the priority of achieving an integrated and unified OSH system by 2021. The new OSH Law, adopted by Parliament in March, and the new OSH Profile to be launched on 6 May in Nay Pi Taw are two key pillars of this system.
The ILO in Myanmar is currently implementing a portfolio of OSH-related projects, including the [email protected] Project promoting OSH among young workers, Vision Zero Fund targeting the agriculture and garment sectors, and activities under the ILO-Japan and ILO Korea programmes..."
Source/publisher:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Date of publication:
2019-05-24
Date of entry/update:
2019-06-11
Grouping:
Individual Documents
Category:
International Labour Organisation (ILO)
Language:
English
more