Myanmar labour minister promises to set minimum wages this month

At a workshop organized by the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce (UMFCCI), which brought together the labour ministry, employers and trade union representatives, Ith Sam Heng, the Cambodian labor minister promised to set a minimum wage of K4000 (US $ 3.60) per day, for the apparel factory workers of Myanmar. The apparel factory owners in the cutting, manufacturing and packaging (CMP) export sector have strongly opposed to this hike citing that they cannot gain market shares at such rates. Myanmar Garment Entrepreneurs Association chairman, U Myint Soe said garment factories would have to change their method of production from CMP to meet the proposed minimum wage costs.