The message sent by Chairman of the State Administration Council Prime Minister of the Republic of the Union of Myanmar Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing to the ceremony to mark the International Workers’ Day
(1 May 2024)
Esteemed workers,
1 May, today is a significant day called International Workers’ Day with full essence in honour of workers worldwide. I extend greetings to all workers as a main force essential for the State with best wishes for enjoying physical and mental well-being with all advantages and auspiciousness.
International Workers’ Day is celebrated in global countries annually as a significant day in the world worker movement history marking the day to enhance value of labour, and to properly enjoy working hours.
The government emphasizes promotion of manufacturing and booming economy.
On the International Workers’ Day, today, I take pride in sending this message as part of recognizing workers as an important force of the State contributing to development of the economic sector with the physical and mental strengths.
Esteemed workers,
By encouraging MSME businesses comprising micro-, small- and mediumsized enterprises will help develop State economy, generate jobs for citizens and enhancing their socioeconomic life.
It is necessary to develop human resources essential for MSME businesses and recruit skilled workers in relevant industries. Hence, skill training schools have been established to conduct skilled training courses, help establishment of private training schools, issue recognized certificates at different level of skills and encourage education for emergence of skilled labours with the aim of turning out skilled workers with the capacity of competing with others at home and abroad.
Garment industries based on worker strength can create employments for citizens, earning foreign exchange for the State and turning out skilled workers. As such, the government cooperates with Myanmar Garment Entrepreneurs Association and partner organizations in order to achieve success in the garment sector, raise the export sector and develop the State economy.
As Myanmar has many good opportunities blessed by nature, these goodopportunities are being efficiently utilized for increasing domestic economy and productivity and shaping the nation to become an exporter from the status of an importer country. In so doing, as the strength of workers are playing a key role for shaping the nation, physical and mental endeavours of workers can be seen for serving the interest of the State and the people.
Bilateral recognition and harmony need between employers and employees in striving for increasing domestic products and solving labour affairs.
To do so, employer and employee recognition certificates have been issued to 3,017 employee organizations and 28 employer organizations in accord with the Labour Organization Law 2011. Workers representing these organizations cooperate with government representatives and employer representatives in solving labour issues and I anticipate that good results will come out.
The government signed memorandums of understanding on labour cooperation with foreign countries in order to enable Myanmar workers to have overseas employment opportunities, protect rights and entitlements of Myanmar migrant workers abroad and systematically apply experiences, knowledge and technologies obtained from foreign countries in Myanmar. Labour attachés have been appointed in the countries where most of Myanmar employees are working and those attachés are assigned to protect rights of Myanmar migrant workers.
Esteemed workers,
Only when workers who are a main productive force of the State enjoy fruits of socio-economic life security and healthcare services and factories operate at full capacity will production in addition to health, education and social sectors develop simultaneously. In realizing such an aim, workers are being provided healthcare services and cash compensation with facilities of three workers’ hospitals, 96 social security clinics, 60 departmental clinics, one traditional medicine clinic, 64 private hospitals and clinics and two mobile medical units.
In initiating workplace safety and development of health conditions of workers from factories and industries, I would like to urge work management officials to participate in playing an emphasis on workplace safety and healthcare services under the relevant disciplines.
Myanmar has joined the ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network- ASEAN-OSHNET as a member since 2000 as part of cooperation with regional and international organizations in order to ensure workplace safety and upgrading health standard of Myanmar.
It is necessary to more effectively solve difficulties in disputes between employers and employees in accordance with the law. In so doing, as relevant seminars and workshops have been held for solving the labour disputes with the aim of seeking good ways and results, government, employers and employees have frankly exchanged their views.
In order to improve workplace relations, employers and employees have to initially negotiate disputes at relevant workplaces and solve them step by step in accord with the law for forging good workplace relations in a long run and contributing to development of the nation with increased manufacturing activities.
In conclusion, I send this message in honour of the International Workers’ Day valued by all the people and I would like to urge workers to join hands with the government in implementing the five-point roadmap and objectives for building a peaceful and prosperous, modern and developed, disciplined democratic nation, enhancing State economy and socioeconomic life of the people with increasing the production and creating employment opportunities
for socioeconomic life improvement of the massive Myanmar workers.
Senior General Thadoe Maha Thray Sithu
Thadoe Thiri Thudhamma Min Aung Hlaing
Prime Minister
Chairman, State Administration Council