The following is 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 marking International Workers’ Day today.
Esteemed workers,
Today 1 May 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, and I convey to them the best wishes for enjoying physical and mental well-being with all advantages and auspiciousness.
Each year, International Workers’ Day is celebrated globally as a pivotal moment in the history of workers’ movement, serving to highlight the value labour and advocate for proper working hours and conditions.
The government emphasizes the promotion of improved manufacturing and economic booming. On International Workers’ Day today, I take pride in sending this message to recognize workers as an important force of the State contributing to the development of the economic sector with physical and mental strengths.
Esteemed workers,
Encouraging MSME businesses comprising micro-, small- and medium-sized enterprises will help develop the State economy, generate jobs for citizens and enhance their socioeconomic lives.
It is necessary to develop the human resources that are essential for MSME businesses and recruit skilled workers in relevant industries. Hence, training schools have been established to conduct skill training courses, help the establishment of private training schools, issue recognized certificates at different levels of skills and encourage education for the emergence of skilled labourers with the capacity of competing with others both at home and abroad.
Garment industries based on worker strength can create employment for citizens, earning foreign exchange for the State and turning out skilled workers. As such, the government cooperates with the 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 good opportunities should be efficiently utilized to increase the domestic economy and productivity and shape the nation to become an exporter from the status of an importer. In such doing, as the strength of workers plays a crucial role in shaping the nation, the physical and mental endeavours of workers can be seen as serving the interests of the State and the people.
Mutual recognition and harmony are needed between employers and employees in striving to increase domestic products and solve labour issues. For this purpose, employer and employee organization recognition certificates have been issued to 3,017 employee organizations and 28 employer organizations under the Labour Organization Law 2011. Workers representing these organizations cooperate with government representatives and employer representatives to solve 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 the rights and entitlements of Myanmar migrant workers abroad and systematically apply their experiences, knowledge and technologies obtained from foreign countries in Myanmar. Labour attachés have been appointed in the countries where most Myanmar employees are working, and those attachés are assigned to protect the rights of Myanmar migrant workers.
Esteemed workers,
Only when workers who are the primary productive force of the State enjoy the fruits of socioeconomic life, security, and healthcare services can factories operate at full capacity for production, in addition to the development of the health, education, and social sectors 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 the development of health conditions of workers from factories and industries, I would like to urge management officials to participate in emphasizing workplace safety and healthcare services under the relevant disciplines.
Myanmar joined the ASEAN Occupational Safety and Health Network (ASEAN OSHNET) as a member in 2000 as part of cooperation with regional and international organizations in order to ensure workplace safety and upgrade the health standards of Myanmar.
It is necessary to more effectively solve difficulties in trade disputes between employers and employees in accordance with the law. In such doing, as relevant seminars and workshops have been held to solve labour disputes with the aim of seeking good ways and results, the 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 to forge good workplace relations in the long run and contribute to the development of the nation with increased manufacturing activities.
In conclusion, I am sending this message in honour of International Workers’ Day, which all people value. I would like to urge workers to join hands with the government in implementing the roadmap and objectives for building a peaceful, prosperous, modern, disciplined, developed and democratic nation, enhancing the State economy and socioeconomic life of the people by 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
