The 5th ADBI-OECD-ILO Roundtable on Labor Migration in Asia

Myanmars Labour Migration Trend

28-30 Jan 2015, Shanghai, PRC

Myanmar Delegation

The views expressed in this presentation are the views of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Asian
Development Bank Institute (ADBI), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), its Board of Directors, or the governments they represent.
ADBI does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this paper and accepts no responsibility for any consequences of their
use. Terminology used may not necessarily be consistent with ADB official terms.
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Overview of Myanmar
Developing country rich in natural resources,
still need to enhance and sustain human
resources development strategy.
The countrys economical development also
needs increasing financial and technical input
at all economic sectors.

24-10-2014

Migrant workers are the resources

performing an important role for the
economic development of both sending and
receiving States.

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Overview of Myanmar

To promote the implementations such as protection on the rights of migrant

workers in order to reduce the abuses, discriminations and violence within
workplace, rendering the services for workers to get appropriate jobs and
salaries, and close cooperation with receiving countries on respective rules
and regulations.

MOLES is taking the measure

To facilitate the protection of working peoples rights
To secure the social voice
To create the sound labour condition
To strengthen the existing social security system
To improve the labour productivity at national and industry level
To promote the occupational safety and health system
To participate in international and regional labour affairs in an active manner.

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Ministry of Immigration and population

is taking the measure
Inspection and control of the entry and exit of Myanmar citizens and
foreigners in line with the prescribed laws.
Finding out and prosecution of illegal immigration in accord with the
existing laws.
Control of foreigners who are staying and moving in Myanmar in line
with the existing laws, rules and regulations.
Record national registration tasks in line with prescribed laws.
Scrutinizing of citizenship applications according to the Myanmar
Citizenship law (1982)

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Demographic surveys and analysis to lay down the State population

policy for the development of living standard.
Conducting population census to get accurate population statistics for the
State policy.
Demographic surveys and collection of accurate population statistics in
support of National Security and socio-economic Projects.
Operating as a focal point for the activities of population and humanitarian
support with UN agencies particularly UNHCR and UNFPA.

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Myanmar Overseas Employment Service

Initiated the Myanmar Overseas Employment Service
in 1990
Overseas Employment Act was enacted in 1999.
Overseas Employment Activities are made for
Myanmar migrant workers by the registered overseas
employment agencies up to this moment.
Consultations with ILO, IOM and MOEAF to review
the existing law relating to overseas employment
issued in 1999.

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Since 1990, in complying the Related Overseas Employment Law; 202

overseas-employment agencies were licensed under the MOLES including one
government overseas-employment agency.
1000000
100000

128045
12495

115985
19328

10000
707

1000

1084

100
10
1

Myanmar Labour Migration Trend 6 Destination Countries Myanmar Workers Employed

(1990-2014)
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Family Remittance
Years

Person

Family Remittance
US$

From 2-4-2012
to 22-9-2014

303238

377.938

Source: Central Bank of Myanmar

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Main responsibilities of the relevant bodies

Main responsibilities of the relevant bodies are Overseas
Employment Supervisory Committee which are comprised of the
Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of
Finance, Ministry of Immigration and Population, Ministry of Social
Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
Overseas Employment Supervisory Committee has been formed to
review, coordinate and supervise the existing and procedure on the
matters concerning dispatch Myanmar Workers abroad.

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Main responsibilities of the relevant bodies

to formulate appropriate policies on overseas employment,
to take measures to curb the abuses and malpractices surrounding
recruitment for overseas employment,
to influence the terms and conditions of employment of workers,
to minimize or resolve problems arising from violations of
contractual obligations of both parties,
to protect the workers rights,
to scrutinize the recruiting agencies for their legitimacy.
Sub Committee of Overseas Employment Supervisory Committee
Labour Administration Committee
Labour Security and Protection Committee
Labour Beneficial Committee
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Cooperation
Myanmar became a member of IOM in 2012 and furthering effective
activities for the betterment of labor migration.
Japan International Training Cooperation Organization (JITCO) have
already reached the Understanding regarding the dispatch of Myanmar
Migrant workers

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Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation

In 2013 Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation has

been formed to assist the Myanmar workers to get them protection by
the Labour rights.
The Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation (MOEAF)
is preparing a Memorandum of Understanding with the employers in
the receiving countries to reduce the vulnerability of domestic
workers to abuse and exploitation.

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Memorandum of understanding
Have signed
the memorandum of understanding for
cooperation in the process sending Myanmar workers
Republic of Korea
Thailand

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Labour Attache are being appointed in Thailand, Republic of Korea and

Malaysia to handle and monitor employment related issues of Myanmar
workers.
labour attaches have cooperated with migrants associations and CSOs in host
countries in providing legal services to migrant workers and pursuing legal
claims on their behalf.
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Migration bodies work with other government

agencies and the private sector
Closely working with Myanmar overseas employment agencies federation and
Overseas employment supervisory committee which comprised of representatives
from the concerned government ministries in order to develop the policy and
management system
Through this channel and other mechanisms respective government
agencies/departments are carrying out the concerned tasks in collaboration with
each others and feeding the required information inputs needed to formulate the
policy and planning for controlling the undesirable outcomes

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Employment Policy
Decent works as a productive factor.
A Pro-employment macroeconomic frame work.
Entrepreneurship and private investment.
Improving the productivity and opportunities of the
working people.
Non discrimination the labour market.
Environmentally and socially sustainable growth.
Employability and adaptability.

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Labour Migration Policy

Simplifying regular channels that allow people to
seek work abroad.
Ensuring basic rights for migrants.
Reducing transaction costs associated with
migration.
Improving socio-economy status for migrants and
their families.
Enabling experience, skill and knowledge from
mobility and sharing those to other.
Making mobility an integral part of national
development strategies.
Facilitating data collection, information
management and research and policy analysis.
Collaborating with international organizations, civil
society organizations, both international and local,
on issues regarding migrant workers.
Enhancing development of labour market in local
and overseas.
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National Action Plan

Governance of Migration
Protection and Empowerment of Migrant Workers
Labour Migration and Management
Data collection and management

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Complaints Mechanism Centers

Opened in Nay Pyi Taw and Yangon to deal and response to the complaints as
they were received and providing services on 24 hours per day and 7 days a week.

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Services provided to return migrants

Established ten Migrant workers Resource Centers in the Regions and
States across Myanmar.
Migrant workers Resource Centers collaborating with IOM and ILO under
the ASEAN Triangle Project.
Mechanism for informing migrant workers about their rights and
obligations
Offer information on employment opportunities

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Collected on the characteristics of labour emigrants

Migrant Workers Reporting
Counter
at
the
Yangon
International Airport to ensure
migrant workers, enjoy their
rights and protection and to
provide proper information for
them and to collect data of
migrants leaving and returning.

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Relevant data on migrants

The labour migrant statistic database; statistical Yearbook, Central
Statistical Organization Ministry of National Planning and Economic
Development.
Labour force survey
Job seekers data in labour exchange office under Ministry of labour and
Social Security
Overseas worker card data in migrant workers division under Ministry of
labour and Social Security
Data in the Embassies and consulates
Immigration data in airport, port, border checkpoints

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Encourage Labour Migrants to use official channels and services

If the Licenced Overseas Employment Agency is found to have infringed
any of the violation of the rules and code of conduct of the Service Agent
Licence, the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation and the
Licenced Overseas Employment Agencies, the Department of Labour
cancels the Licence or revokes it subject to a time limit.

Effective labour Migration Administration

Feasibility studies for the establishment of Migrant workers welfare funds

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Conclusion

To pay our attention to the capacity building of national and regional

institutions with responsibilities on migration as well as the need for enhancing
for International cooperation on irregular migration, human trafficking and
smuggling.
To be safe migration and protection of the rights of migrant workers in our
region according to the world labour market and up lift the humanitarian
assistance for them.

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