High garment exports create plentiful jobs at Myanmar clothing factories

Myanmar’s garment factories have proper job opportunities due to the high demand for garments from the EU despite the decline in the global garment industry during the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Although some countries suspended the garment factories which operated with many workers, some resumed the operations due to the high demand as per the health rules in the third wave, and such doing was convenient for both the employers and employees.
About 500 out of more than 600 garment factories were reopened and some companies invested in the garment industry.
“We are happy at the current cooperation of ministries in import/export sectors as there is no off-day in this sector. Then, the government vaccinates the factory workers and it can grab the trust of our market, and so we are eager to run the operations. I want the government to provide the needed assistance to us not to suspend the works due to the challenges in this period and including the banking industry. The high demand for the EU can ease the situation for our garment factories. We will work with the government in solving the challenges,” said U Myint Soe, chairman of the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association.
The outbreak of COVID-19 hit the international shipping companies and ports, and the factories are facing difficulties to run the business due to the rising transportation costs and restrictions on exports/imports.
The country has more than 400,000 garment workers— about 300,000 workers in Yangon Region and more than 100,000 in Bago and Ayeyawady regions. There are also some factories in Nay Pyi Taw, Meiktila and Kyaukse townships. The high garment export creates many job opportunities for the Myanmar workforce. — Nyein Thu/GNLM