Myanmar’s National Committee for Minimum Wage has decided to set the basic daily salary of workers at 4800 kyat (K). State and regional committees will receive suggestions or objections to the proposed rate, study those in consultation with workers and employers, and take a final call on the figure. The minimum wage now is K3600, set in September 2012.
The garment industry in Myanmar has been adversely affected over the past few years owing to the minimum wage issue. The Myanmar Labour Union Federation and the Cooperating Committee of Trade Unions (CCTU) have objected to the proposed new rate.
Workers in the country have been demanding a daily rate of K5600-6600. Ko Myo Zaw, a Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar member, argued that K5600-6600 was a more reasonable figure as workers struggle with high cost of living, especially in cities, says a report in a Myanmarese newspaper.
CCTU has urged the government and employers to study the real living cost of workers and their families and decide whether K4800 is sufficient to cover their daily living costs. (DS)
Source Fibre2Fashion News Desk – India