“We have standards assessment
centers under the National Skill Standards Authority to certify individual
workers’ ability and expertise. In accord with the assessment program to date,
3622 level-1 skilled workers and 472 level-2 skilled workers were granted
certifications.”
Union Minister U Thein Swe
MINISTRY of Labour, Immigration and
Population (MOLIP) is responsible for development ofthe nation by tripartite
cooperation of Government, employer and employee in conformity with the labor
laws and implementing in the area of immigration, registration and collecting
data of population in line with the National Policy systematically.
The news team met with the Union
Minister U TheinSwe for media cover on the Ministry’s progress in the 3rd year.
Q: Can you tell us about some of
your achievements during your third year in office?
A: Rights and welfare of workers
concern the whole nation. From 1 April 2018 to 28 February 2019, there were
9054 posts open in the government offices with 216,391 jobs in the private
sector.
There are a total of 269 agencies
that help employ people from Myanmar abroad legally. Last year, Myanmar sent up
to 228,162 workers abroad. We also helped establish 251 new worker unions, 10
job fairs in 3 regions and states and helped fill 2210 posts.
Q: What are some initiatives to
protect Myanmar workers employed abroad?
A: The Ministry is issuing
Certificate of Identity to workers currently in Thailand with no proper
documentation. There were 9 centers and two mobile teamsthat issued these
certificateswith 66,412 certificates issued from 11 March 2018 to 30 June 2018
and a total 263,135 OWIC cards issued from 1 April 2018 to 28 February 2019.
For workers who hold the TR-38
card, the Myanmar embassy is now allowing Myanmar passport holders to renew
their passports with proper documentation. Myanmar has also signed respective
MoUs with the Republic of Korea and Japan to allow workers from Myanmar to have
access to employment and training centers there.
Q: What are some policies to
protect migrant worker safety?
A: Safety of workers is very
important. We are trying to train our Labor Exchange officers, General
Administration Officers (GAD) and Ward and village administrators to be able to
provide accurate and relevant information on safe migration to potential
migrants and their families. Hopefully, this will help them make more informed
choices and avoid human traffickers and other illicit agencies.
Q: What are some programs by the
ministry to train skilled workers?
A: We have standards assessment
centers under the National Skill Standards Authority to certify individual
workers’ ability and expertise. In accord with the assessment program to
date,3622 level-1 skilled workers and 472 level- 2 skilled workers were granted
certifications.
Q: Can you explain more about the
national minimum wage initiative and documenting the workforce?
A: Currently, the minimum wage is
600 kyats per hour and 4800 kyats per day. The law doesn’t apply to family
owned businesses and small businesses under 10 employees. For factories, the
minimum wages for workers have been enforced since 2013. We started our data
collection for people who were employed in 2015 and will continue to survey in
2019. The survey goes bi-annually and collets up till 14040 households every 6
months.
Q: What about the laws and
regulations?
A: There are 14 laws concerning
labor laws. We are planning to draft for foreign workers labor bill in Myanmar
along with bills on safety and regulations in workplaces. The laws are being
discussed in the ministry after getting suggestions from the Office of the
Attorney General. The Workplace Safety and Health Bill was ratified by the
Second Pyithu Hluttaw 11th regular meeting.
Q: Can you elaborate on the Social
Security system in Myanmar?
A: Within the 3rd year of the
current administration, there were over 1,239,229 people who were reimbursed
medical costs from 32,119 offices. Over 391 million Kyats covered medical costs
for 8359 cases and 10,709 million Kyats more paid for 221,859 cases as damages.
The ministry is trying to reform our IT system to makes things more stream
lined and efficient in addition to the medical reform to create a provider-
purchaser split system for healthcare. There is also a 2018- 2023 project
roadmap to eradicate child labor and we are currently drawing up a step-by-step
plan to achieve the objectives in the roadmap. There is currently a draft
regarding child labor in over 20 industries and 108 sub categories and is
expected to come out in early 2019. The National Committee for Eradication of
Child Labor is headed by our Vice President.
Q: How about dispute resolution
between workers and employers?
A: During our 3rd year in
administration, 332 million Kyats and 16,047 USD were awarded to 1219 employees
from 68 disputes that were judged by the Council. From the township dispute
resolution offices, there were 1173 settlements out of 1275 disputes and 102
transferred to the state level. A total of 1400 million Kyats and 300 USD were
awarded to 3756 employees.
Q: There is relaxation on visa
restrictions. Can you tell us more about it?
A: There are 12 types of visas for
foreigners entering Myanmar. The ministry added two additional types of visa
for family and guests of diplomats and added two more countries (Ukraine,
Russia) to 53 countries eligible for Visa on Arrival. The VOA is available in
Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw international airports for different types of
visa. Since the implementation of visa on arrival Myanmar has received over
US$19 million from 398,213 world travelers. E-visas are available for tourists
from 100 countries and 55 countries for business visas from 3 international
airports and Myanmar-Thai and Myanmar-India international checkpoints. Express
e-tourist visas are available as well within 24 hours. Myanmar has received
over US$ 42 million from over 1.1 million visitors.
There are visa-free agreements with
ASEAN countries and 23 other countries for diplomat passports. For normal passports,
Myanmar citizens can travel to ASEAN countries visa free except for Malaysia.
Starting October 2018, Myanmar passport holders can visit up Hong Kong and
Macau visa-free.
MAPPS (Myanmar Advanced Passenger
Processing System) was installed in Yangon International Airport that lets us
see Black Listed passengers starting March 2018. Repatriation efforts are also
in order with 68 applications for Myanmar citizens approved out of 117
applicants who are reapplying for citizenship after losing it. Foreigner
Registration Cards are also being issued with 480 approved out of 590
applicants. We are trying to update our Border Control System (BCS) into
international standards at the airports and border gates.
Q: How about reception efforts for
people who had to flee due to conflict?
A: There are reception centers for
people who are coming back to Myanmar by land or sea. UNDP, UNHCR and our own
Ministry is working together as promised in the MoU singed 6th June 2018. The
Technical Working Groups have been founded to check whether people coming back
have lived in Rakhine or not and are reporting back to the State Counselor’s
Office.
We are also issuing NV cards. NV
card means the Identity Cards for National Verification for a person who is to
undergo for scrutiny assessment for citizenship.
There were 67699 NV cards issued so
the people will be able to have an identification card that proves they are
Myanmar citizens. For example, from the 89 IDP camps in Kachin, we helped 29351
people apply for new NRC cards due to lost/damage to the cards. The people in
Rakhine IDP camps were also given a type of identification.
With the help of NeID system, we
were able to collect and account for 2,374,787 people. The ministry is also
trying to collect bio data and biometric data starting with the prisons and
people in custody of the police from different states and regions.
Regarding the 1 million migrant
workers from Myanmar that are currently in Thailand, we were able to scrutinize
and confirm for 35780 people out of 39509 applicants. There are committees
being formed and consultants hired for an e-government to go online so the
ministry will be able to utilize e-ID.
Q: What about the National Census?
A: We publish population data on
our website and Facebook. There are forward projections on population here in
Myanmar up till 2031. The Ministry also distributes the Micro Data Set on
request and maintains the Master Sample Frame from 2014 census. To capture a
more accurate population snapshot in 2023, we are planning to have a national
census in November.
Interview: Khin Yandana
Photo: May Oo Moe
Translated by Myat Thu
Ref : The Global New Light of
Myanmar
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