The Confederation of Trade Unions of Myanmar (CTUM) has thrown its support behind a government-led proposal for a minimum wage in Burma of 3,600 kyat (US$3.60) a day.
In a press release on Sunday, the CTUM said that it welcomed the proposal submitted last week by the National Committee for Minimum Wage (NCMW), recommending to the Ministry of Labour a minimum national daily wage of 3,600 kyat for an eight-hour working day.
“We also agree with the fact that the minimum wage will apply nationwide regardless of the different sectors,” it said.
The NCMW proposal followed two years of negotiations, culminating in a workshop in Rangoon last week involving garment factories’ representatives, workers groups, employers’ associations and government officials.
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The Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association (MGMA) has since threatened to close down factories if the proposed 3,600 kyat per day minimum wage is approved by the Burmese government.
Speaking to DVB on Friday, MGMA Secretary Khin Khin Nwe said, “We already promised to honour a minimum wage of 2,500 kyat.”
The garment factory owners say the NCMW proposal is “unaffordable” and will put some 200,000 factory jobs at risk.
