Amyotha Hluttaw discusses child labour and Myanmar citizenship

 May 29, 2017

Union Minister for the Labour, Immigration and Population has committed to tackling child labour issue by implementing long-term and short-term National level projects.

This was stated on the 5th day of the 2nd Amyotha Hluttaw 5th Regular Meeting held yesterday in reply to a question raised by Daw Ei Ei Pyone from Ayeyawady constituency (8), asking if the government has a policy to reduce the child labour population and to provide opportunities for existing children in labour to take up vocational training and education.

The Union Minister said their ministry has already discussed on the aforementioned projects and will implement them with ministries and organisations concerned. The long-term project has been designated to begin from 2018 till 2033 (15 years), and the short term projects will be divided into three phases with the first phase beginning from 2018 to 2023 (5 years), the second phase from 2024 to 2028 (5 years), and the third phase from 2028 to 2033 (5 years).

Vocational trainings are provided in Yankin, Mandalay and North Dagon Myothit with courses in basic welding, basic electric engineering, air-conditioner repair and maintenance, and construction. The Ministry of Education creates opportunities for working or displaced children and youths to have free middle school education, and for adolescents outside of education to receive the necessary certificates validating their skills so as to support them in their workplace.

Union Minister U Thein Swe said their ministry is collaborating with other ministries, region, state and self-administered areas, ILO, UNICEF, INGO, NGO, CSOs to combat and reduce child labour.

U Aung Thein from Bago constituency (12) asked whether people holding foreigner registration cards who want to apply for Myanmar citizenship, with the parent already a Myanmar citizen, need to relinquish their foreign NRC before application or can choose to relinquish it after receiving Myanmar citizenship. Union Minister U Thein Swe replied that if people holding foreign NRCs apply to the central committee for Myanmar citizenship in accordance with Myanmar Citizenship Laws, then there was no need to relinquish their foreign NRCs beforehand. It is only after the central committee has approved of their application for Myanmar citizenship and taken up the oath of loyalty to the State under Myanmar Citizenship Law Section -46 (B), are they required to give up their foreign NRCs.

Later on in the meeting, Hluttaw representatives from Chin, Sagaing, Ayeyawady, and Yangon constituencies put forward questions on the construction sector and national registration cards. U Thein Swe, Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population and Major General Than Htun, Deputy Minister for Border Affairs discussed and answered these questions. 

Ref; The Global New Light of Myanmar