NAY PYI TAW, 1 May

A ceremony to mark the Workers’ Day-2012 was observed at Myanmar International Convention Centre (MICC) in Zabuthiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw Council Area, at 9 am today, with an opening address by Vice-President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Dr Sai Mauk Kham.

It was attended by Union Ministers, Chairman of Pyithu Hluttaw Peasants, Workers and Youths Affairs Committee and members, Chairman of Amyotha Hluttaw Peasants and Local and Foreign Workers Committee and members, deputy ministers, ambassadors, departmental heads, resident representatives of the United Nations agencies, representatives from labour organizations, employers’ organizations and NGOs at home and abroad, prize-winning workers and guests and delegates.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham said: I would like to say I am very pleased and have an honour to be with the representatives from Labour Organizations and Employers’ Organizations joining in today’s May Day Ceremony. Labour organizations and employers’ organizations are partners that have to work hand in hand. Employers have to enable workers to enjoy their rights and benefits and workers also have to make efforts to progressively boost production and services at various factories and establishments in which they are working. The economics of the nation will develop and entire people and all future generations are entitled to enjoy the benefits of social protection.

Generally, social protection is policy adoption required, such as to enable people including workers and employers, to enjoy equitable development, not to encounter uncertain socio-economic lives and to reduce the livelihood of those who are difficult to stand because of their financial condition. Such protection is a key mechanism that could address family income issue, meet a minimum of adequate socio-economic lives for those who are difficult to stand because of their insufficient financial condition, discrimination against gender, age, religion and ethnic groups.

In Myanmar, there are still main challenges to social protection policy such as unemployment or a collapse of income, income insecurity, or overpriced for household commodities, economic and financial problems, social issues. Besides, problems stemming from natural catastrophes and environmental issues and health incidents are also included.

Although Myanmar has implemented the social security system, it is not a comprehensive one. It offers some types of benefits and its coverage of workers is limited. So, efforts are being made to be able to enact a new Social Security Law in order to implement a social security system that covers the whole population.

After enactment of this new Social Security Law, all citizens will be able to access better comprehensive social protection benefits. For example, social security benefits such as medical care benefit after retirement, family grant benefit, retirement benefit, survivors’ benefit, unemployment benefit, social security housing benefit, and ownership will be enjoyed.

Most of world’s nations are making efforts to enable their citizens to be able to access comprehensive social protection benefits.

Similarly, the Government of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar is striving for ensuring comprehensive social protection benefits. It is needed for all concerned to actively participate in utilizing human resources, financial resources, and natural resources of the nation effectively, establishing an administrative system to ensure transparency. It is required to take measures on supervision of the government, employer and employee.

At present, good opportunities such as employment creation, individual income generation, skill development and receiving advanced technologies have emerged in Myanmar because there have been some good potential for foreign investments here.

Therefore, it will have more benefits for the entire people in the long run by making concerted efforts such as respect for the labour laws, rules and regulations, understanding the social and environmental responsibility; promotion and protection of the labour practices and labour rights.

Making policies for the poverty reduction programmes undertaking at present are implementing the social protection. Creating employment opportunities is the most fundamental requirement for the poverty reduction and national development. It is needed to ensure that every job hunter can be employed for the suitable places. It will be needed not only to employ the urban job seekers but also to create the job opportunities for the surplus workforce from the agricultural sector.

The Government will encourage the establishment of new businesses and the employment creation for rural job seekers and for the graduates. Therefore, the Government permits the extension of economic zones, industrial zones, industrial areas, factories and establishments to create and emerge more employment opportunities.

The Government carries out for having more employment opportunities as well as it is being implemented for the improvement of knowledge and professional qualification of workforce and it is being planned for the free flow of skilled labours in local and in foreign countries.

The initiation of the identification of skill standards, apart from that, training, opening the skill testing centre, and issuing the skill recognition certificates are implementing as long term vision for having the decent wages and rights of workers according to their skill.

In doing so, it will need to enact a law for the systematic implementation.

That’s why, Employment and Skill Development Law (draft) is being written.

The Government is striving for having sustainable business models, economic markets, and for enjoying more social protection and social security of the whole public including workers in the Republic of the Union of Myanmar. I would like to conclude by saying that let us work together with all workers, employers and the nation collectively.

After that, Union Minister U Aung Kyi read out the message sent by President of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar U Thein Sein.

Then, ILO Liaison Officer Mr Steve Marshall also read out the message sent by ILO Director- General Mr Juan Somavia. U Soe Min Aung of Myanmar Seafarers Federation addressed on behalf of employee and U Myint Soe of Garment Entrepreneurs Association, on behalf of employers.

Prize-awarding ceremony was followed. Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham awarded U Kyaw Kyaw of No. 1 General Heavy Industries, who stood first in Milling Machine Operator competition, first prize winner of Welder Operator competition U Maung Maung of No. 2 General Heavy Industries, first award winner of Foundry Operator competition U Zaw LwinOoofNo. 1GeneralHeavy Industries and U San Naing of United Engineering Co. Ltd who won the first prize in building carpenter competition.

After that, Union Minister for Labour and for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Aung Kyi presented awards to U Aung Hsan of Htet Myat Car Workshop, U Kyaw Swe Hsan of U Nyan Hsint Industries and U Hla Moe of NIBBAN Electronics Factory.

Union Minister at President Office U Soe Maung awarded U Wai Phyo of Maple Garment Factory, U Soe Thu of KMA Electrical Group and U Than Aung, U Win Tin and U Myo Maung of A & T Bakery Factory.

Union Minister for Education Dr Mya Aye presented awards to U Okkar of Myanmar Links Co., U Mya Soe of Central Freighthandling Committee Office and U Mya Lwin of Ministry of Transport.

Deputy Minister for Labour U Myint Thein awarded U Than Naing Oo of Ministry of Rail Transportation, U Win Htay of No. 2 General Heavy Industries and U Saw Win Htway of No. 1 General Heavy Industries.

ILO Liaison Officer Mr Steve Marshall awarded U Aung Myaing Oo of Shwe Myint Slipper Factory, Daw Khaing Pa Pa Soe and Daw Win Thanda Tun of Glorious Family Rattan Furniture Factory and U Sein Myint of No. 1 General Heavy Industries. After that, the ceremony came to an end.

After the ceremony, Vice-President Dr Sai Mauk Kham and party cordially greeted those present and enjoyed documentary photos put on display at the hall.

NAY PYI TAW, 23 Jan 2012

Union Minister for Labour and for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement U Aung Kyi received a delegation led by Executive Director Mr Guy Ryder of the ILO at his office here this morning.

They discussed measures for soonest enactment of Labour Union Law passed by Pyidaungsu Hluttaw and Myanmar’s implementation of suggestions of ILO Conventions and meetings of ILO executive bodies.

They exchanged views on Myanmar’s democratization process, efforts for making peace with ethnic armed groups, effectiveness of poverty alleviation scheme, gradually relaxing of grip over media, amnesty to prisoners and eradication of forced labour nationwide.

Deputy Labour Minister U Myint Thein and the ILO executive director signed the agreement to extend supplementary under-standing on eradication of forced labour for further one year.