Khin Maung NYO
Chairman, Myanmar Economic Association
Khin Maung Nyo studied economics at Yangon Institute of Economics, Myanmar. He worked as
a Lecturer at Department of Economics, Institute of Economics until 2001, before moving to
Prime Minister’s office as Deputy Director, until 2006. He is also a Senior Research Fellow at
Myanmar Development Resource Institute-Centre for Economic and Social development, and
Chairman of Myanmar Economic Association. Nyo is also a Journalist and Columnist,
contributing articles and commentaries to local and international media.
Abstract
Managing Low-skilled Labor Migration in Myanmar
17 December 2015
Myanmar as a least developed country facing economic and labor issues which need to be
tackled. She suffered from low economic development because of mismanagement of the
economy for many decades. Growth of the Myanmar industries and businesses was limited.
Consequently, income of the ordinary people in general and workers are at low level to cover
their cost of living. One of the available options for them was to migrate into the neighboring
countries legally or illegally under various risks and challenges.
Formerly, Myanmar government is less concerned about the issues related with illegal migrants
to neighboring countries and very recently migrant labor issues become one of the areas which
attracts new civilian government’s attention including Parliaments. After liberalizing private
media in Myanmar, stories of sufferings and exploitations of the Myanmar migrant workers are
published. Myanmar Government no longer ignores the sufferings of migrant workers and start
trying to help migrant workers abroad.
Even though some of the positive outcomes could be seen, there seems to be a lot of challenges
remain for the low skilled migrant workers which need to be tackled in the short run and long
run.
In the long run, as Myanmar is endeavoring to reform her economy and integrating into the
global community, she could enjoy the economic development which in turn will help the
improvement of workers’ environment both at home and abroad.
Managing Unskilled labor
Migration in Myanmar
Khin Maung Nyo
Related Organizations
• IOM
• Ministry of labor,Employment and Social
Security
• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Home Affairs
• Civil Society
Status
• Primary source of country for the victims
of trafficking in the GMS area
• Thailand,China,Indonesia - Key
destination
• for purpose of forced labor,sexual
exploitation,forced
marriage,begging,fishing industry
3
Key Destination
•
•
•
•
Internal Migration
GMS
Middle East and Gulf States
East Asia-Korea and Japan
National Priority
-Myanmar diplomats try to protect the rights of
Myanmar migrant workers at every destination on
limited resources.
-Civil society organizations and international
organizations should be recognized for their various
attempts to help low skilled immigrant
National plan of Action
Priority Area
• Enhanced Governance of labor migration
• Improved protection and empowerment of
migrant workers
• Data Collection and Management
• Labor migration and development
7
Migrant Resource Centre
•
•
•
•
Myawady
Mawlamyine
Hpaaan
Magway and Yangon
Recent Developments
• Response to election result-Better treatment
of Myanmar migrant workers in Thailand
• Thai culture and Law training at Chiangmai
University
• 3 schools at border areas recognized by
Myanmar Ministry of Education
• Action taken against 12 External Employment
Agencies for misconduct
Challenges Remain
• Not enjoying minimum wages
• Lack of awareness among migrant workersRights, Procedures for recruitment , Place and
Fees
• Widespread exploitations of undocumented
workers
• Complex procedures through legal channel
• Safe and economically rewarding migration