The Myanmar government has advised garment bosses to agree to a proposed national minimum wage on a trial basis, the country’s, media has reported. Representatives of garment manufacturers have condemned the suggestion that they pay workers at least Kyat 3,600 ($3.20) for an eight-hour day, with about 30 threatening to shut down factories. But Myanmar labour minister U Aye Myint was quoted in the state-backed Global New Light of Myanmar as saying that the amount was suitable “given the current situation of the country”. It can also be amended in future, he added. The new wage which was decided last month after a year of talks between government, labour representatives and unions, represents a rise of about $2 a day. The new minimum wage would still make Myanmar’s garment workers some of the region’s lowest paid. It also needs to secure parliamentary approval. Five Myanmar workers’ federations in Yangon have agreed on the government’s recent designation of 3,600 kyats (about $3.27) as minimum daily wages as a final stage of negotiation, saying that there will be no further talks on the issue. In the first week of July, the five workers’ federations stressed the need to form a socio-economic committee comprising representatives from the government, employers and employees. Myanmar’s garment entrepreneurs had opposed the proposed minimum wage, saying that the issue will be submitted to the regional authorities for further action.
