Domestic labour and industrialization updates

Updates on domestic labour and industrialization issues:

"Myanmar Relies on Foreign Investments to Draw Migrants, Refugees," RFA, 14 Sept. 2014.

"Myanmar authorities are banking on foreign investments to generate jobs in a bid to woo back some of the country’s nearly 10 million migrant workers from neighboring countries... He believes employment opportunities will arise from the Thilawa, Dawei and Kyaukphyu special economic zones (SEZs) currently under development... The Thilawa SEZ—the largest of the three special economic zones—is a joint venture between the governments of Myanmar and Japan and private consortiums. It is situated about 23 kilometers (14 miles) southeast of Yangon in Thanlyin-Kyauktan... Legislators enacted a Special Economic Zone (SEZ) Law in January to allow foreign investors to invest in export-oriented industries in the zones so that Myanmar could generate jobs and improve its socioeconomic situation, reports have said.

"Let a million factories rise," The Economist, 18 Oct. 2014

"PREPARATIONS for the first section of the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ) included clearing nearly 400 hectares of land and building roads to a nearby port. The industrial park is scheduled to open in the middle of next year and some of the 22 companies set to move in will begin building their factories by the end of the month... Thilawa, the furthest advanced of the three, will employ 70,000 workers when running at full tilt, turning out food, consumer products and construction materials for the domestic market, as well as export-oriented goods such as shoes, car parts and garments.... Even a modest introduction of modern farming methods would have a big impact on farms and the country’s labour productivity as a whole. It would also free more workers to look for jobs in factories in cities."

"Myanmar to survey 108 townships to set minimum wage," Mizzima, 14 Oct. 2014

"The minimum wage level will be proposed in late November [2014] and the Union government will make the decision in late December. Currently, Myanmar has no minimum wage. Ministry of Labour,Employment and Social Security Deputy Minister U Htin Aung pledged in parliament June 3 that the minimum wage would be officially set by December with the aim to make sure that workers and their families can survive on a basic wage."